18-33 years of age for male and female compulsory and voluntary
military service; 12-24 month service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,264,087
females age 16-49: 9,894,457 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,094,209
females age 16-49: 6,213,984 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 506,742
female: 487,434 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Transnational Issues ::Sudan
Disputes - international:
the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel militia
fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the
neighboring states; as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Central
African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda
provided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, which
includes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes by
Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces; Sudan, in
turn, hosted about 116,000 Eritreans, 20,000 Chadians, and smaller
numbers of Ethiopians, Ugandans, Central Africans, and Congolese as
refugees; in February 2006, Sudan and DROC signed an agreement to
repatriate 13,300 Sudanese and 6,800 Congolese; Sudan accuses
Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate
the porous boundary with Ethiopia proceed slowly due to civil and
ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan; the boundary that separates Kenya
and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which
Kenya has administered since colonial times; Sudan claims but Egypt
de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib
region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent
skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights
persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the
Central African Republic
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 157,220 (Eritrea); 25,023 (Chad);
11,009 (Ethiopia); 7,895 (Uganda); 5,023 (Central African Republic)
IDPs: 5.3 - 6.2 million (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in
Darfur region) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor and
sexual exploitation; Sudan is also a transit and destination country
for Ethiopian women trafficked abroad for domestic servitude;
Sudanese women and girls are trafficked within the country as well
as possibly to Middle Eastern countries for domestic servitude; the
terrorist rebel organization, Lord's Resistance Army, continues to
harbor small numbers of Sudanese and Ugandan children in the
southern part of the country for use as cooks, porters, and
combatants; some of these children are also trafficked across
borders into Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo; militia
groups in Darfur, some of which are linked to the government, abduct
women for short periods of forced labor and to perpetrate sexual
violence; during the two decades-long north-south civil war,
thousands of Dinka women and children were abducted and subsequently
enslaved by members of the Missiriya and Rezeigat tribes; while
there have been no known new abductions of Dinka by members of
Baggara tribes in the last few years, inter-tribal abductions
continue in southern Sudan
tier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so; combating human trafficking through
law enforcement or prevention measures was not a priority for the
government in 2007 (2008)
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Suriname (South America)
Introduction ::Suriname
Background:
First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled
by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a Dutch
colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workers were
brought in from India and Java. Independence from the Netherlands
was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was
replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist
republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of
nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international
pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military
overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected
government - a four-party coalition - returned to power in 1991. The
coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and has continued to
rule since.
Geography ::Suriname
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:
4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 163,820 sq km
country comparison to the world: 91
land: 156,000 sq km
water: 7,820 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,703 km
border countries: Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline:
386 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small
amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0.36%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 99.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:
510 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
122 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita: 1,489 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland
waterways by small-scale mining activities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly
tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for
the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development;
relatively small population, mostly along the coast
People ::Suriname
Population:
486,618 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.1% (male 66,603/female 64,035)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 159,525/female 160,871)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 13,004/female 17,229) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.3 years
male: 27.9 years
female: 28.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.108% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Birth rate:
16.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Death rate:
5.53 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Urbanization:
urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.068 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.19 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 21.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.98 years
country comparison to the world: 103
male: 71.24 years
female: 76.91 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,800 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, Mayaro virus, and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups:
Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors
emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th
century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%,
"Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in
the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior)
10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
Religions:
Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman
Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages:
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of
Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca
among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 92%
female: 87.2% (2004 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 13 years (2002)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Suriname
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Government type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,
Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence:
25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution:
ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 1987
Legal system:
based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August
2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12
August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National
Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger United
People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and
regional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); election
last held on 19 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE elected president; percent
of vote - Desire Delano BOUTERSE 70.6%, Chandrikapersad SATOKHI
25.5%, other 3.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - Mega Combination 45.1%,
New Front 27.5%, A-Com 13.7%, People's Alliance 11.8%, DOE 1.9%;
seats by party - Mega Combination 23, New Front 14, A-Com 7,
People's Alliance 6, DOE 1
Judicial branch:
Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court
(justices are nominated for life); member of the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
A-Combination (a coalition that includes the General Liberation and
Development Party ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], SEEKA [Paul ABENA], Union
of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics BEP [Caprino ALENDY]; Basic
Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Dilip SARDJOE]; Basic Party
for Renewal and Democracy or PVF [Soedeschand JAIRAM]; Democratic
Union Suriname or DUS [Japhet DIEKO]; Mega-Combination-Ruling
Coalition (a coalition that joined with A-Combination and the PL to
form a majority in Parliament in 2010 - includes the National
Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE] (largest party in the
coalition), Progressive Worker and Farmer's Union or PALU [Jim HOK],
Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI
[Willy SOEMITA], DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], and New Suriname or
NS [Nanan PANDAY]); National Union or NU [P. VAN LEEUWAARDE]; New
Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition made up of
the National Party of Suriname or NPS [Runaldo VENETIAAN], United
Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien SARDJOE], Democratic Alternative 1991
or DA-91 - an independent, business-oriented party [Winston
JESSURUN], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party
for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Carl BREEVELD]; Party
for the Permanent Prosperity Republic Suriname or PVRS [NA];
People's Alliance, Pertjaja Luhur's or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO](includes
D-21 [Soewarta MOESTADJA] and Pendawa Lima [Raymond SAPEON], which
merged with PL in 2010)
note: BVD and PVF participated in the elections as a coalition
(BVD/PVF) in the most recent elections, but separated after the
election
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]; Association
of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE]; Women's
Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDB,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques Ruben Constantijn KROSS
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. NAY
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo
telephone: [597] 472-900
FAX: [597] 410-025
Flag description:
five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red
(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow,
five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for
progress and love; green symbolizes hope and fertility; white
signifies peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity
of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws
strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden
future
National anthem:
name: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes
Corstianus DE PUY
note: adopted 1959; the anthem, originally adapted from a Sunday
school song written in 1893, contains lyrics in both Dutch and
Sranan Tongo
Economy ::Suriname
Economy - overview:
The economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of
alumina, gold, and oil accounting for about 85% of exports and 25%
of government revenues, making the economy highly vulnerable to
mineral price volatility. In 2000, the government of Ronald
VENETIAAN, returned to office and inherited an economy with
inflation of over 100% and a growing fiscal deficit. He quickly
implemented an austerity program, raised taxes, attempted to control
spending, and tamed inflation. Economic growth reached about 6% in
2007 and 2008, owing to sizeable foreign investment in mining and
oil. Suriname has received aid for projects in the bauxite and gold
mining sectors from Netherlands, Belgium, and the European
Development Fund. The economy contracted in 2009, however, as
investment waned and the country earned less from its commodity
exports when global prices for most commodities fell. Trade picked
up, boosting Suriname's economic growth in 2010, but the
government's budget remained strained, with increased social
spending during last year's election. Suriname's economic prospects
for the medium term will depend on continued commitment to
responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of
structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.794 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$4.632 billion (2009 est.)
$4.541 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.297 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
2% (2009 est.)
7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$9,600 (2009 est.)
$9,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 24.4%
services: 64.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
165,600 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 176
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 14%
services: 78% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 105
Population below poverty line:
70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.65% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
12.2% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$608 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 153
$495.6 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$1.809 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 145
$1.573 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$793.1 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$651 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;
beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products
Industries:
bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food
processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
6.5% (1994 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Electricity - production:
1.605 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - consumption:
1.467 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
15,190 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Oil - exports:
4,308 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Oil - imports:
6,296 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Oil - proved reserves:
79.6 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Current account balance:
$24 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Exports:
$1.391 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Exports - commodities:
alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners:
Canada 35.47%, Belgium 14.92%, US 10.15%, UAE 9.87%, Norway 4.92%,
Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.47% (2009)
Imports:
$1.297 billion (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 30.79%, Netherlands 19.17%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.04%, China
6.8%, Japan 5.85% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$263.3 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 125
Debt - external:
$504.3 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Exchange rates:
Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar - 2.745 (2007), 2.745 (2006),
2.7317 (2005), 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003)
note: in January 2004, the government replaced the guilder with the
Surinamese dollar, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket
Communications ::Suriname
Telephones - main lines in use:
83,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146
Telephones - mobile cellular:
763,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
Telephone system:
general assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 175 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple
private radio and TV stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.sr
Internet hosts:
171 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 199
Internet users:
163,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146
Transportation ::Suriname
Airports:
51 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 91
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 46
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 41 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 50 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 4,304 km
country comparison to the world: 154
paved: 1,130 km
unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)
Waterways:
1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 60
Merchant marine:
total: 1
country comparison to the world: 153
by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Paramaribo, Wageningen
Military ::Suriname
Military branches:
National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Marine Section and Air
Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with personnel
drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 133,417
females age 16-49: 133,487 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 108,555
females age 16-49: 111,927 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 4,046
female: 4,056 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Transnational Issues ::Suriname
Disputes - international: