Suriname: Statistical Overview

Total Population: 618,040

Natural Increase: 0.8%

Density: 4 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 66.3%

Ethnic Origins: Hindustani (also known locally as 'East Indians', descendants from northern Indians) represent about 27% of the population, 'Maroons' (descendants from Africans) 22%, with Creole (mixed European and Afro-Americans) representing about 16%, Javanese 14%, mixed people 13%, Amerindians 4%, Chinese 2% other ethnic groups (including Europeans) about 2%. (Statistics Office of Suriname)

Official Language: Dutch

Other Languages Spoken: English, Sranang Tongo, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese, and others.

Business Language(s): English

Religion: Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, Indigenous beliefs 5%.

Literacy Rate: 89.6%

Area: 163,820 km²

Type of State: Presidential republic.

Type of Economy: Lower-middle-income economy.
An economy which is based essentially on the production of bauxite.

HDI*: 0.714/1

HDI (World Rank): 103/188

Telephone Code:
To call from Suriname, dial 00
To call Suriname, dial +597

Internet Suffix: .sr

Telephone Lines: 15.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 34.7 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 100% of the Population