Suriname
Official
Name: Republic of Suriname
Capital:
Paramaribo
Government:
Democratic, 51-member National Assembly. Multi-party Coalition. Next elections
in 2010.
Head
of state:
President Drs. R.R. Venetiaan
Speaker National Assembly: P. Somohardjo
DEMOGRAPHY
Population:
434.000
Birth rate:
30.5 per 1000
Population
growth rate: 0.7%
ETHNIC
GROUPS
Mixed Creole
34%
East Indian
34%
Javanese
15%
Bush Negro
10%
Amerindian 3%
Chinese 2%
European /
others 2%
Adult literacy:
93%
LANGUAGES
Official
language: Dutch
Other
languages: English, Sranang Tongo, Sarnami, Chinese, Javanese and different
tribal languages (spoken by Amer-Indian and Bush Negro tribes)
Area:
163620 sq. km. (63251 sq. miles)
Location: North
coast of South America
Bordered by:
Atlantic Ocean on North
Guyana on West
Brazil on South
French Guyana on East
TOPOGRAPHY
Coastal: Low flat plains with some swamp
Central:
Forested with intermittent savannah
Interior
(about 75% of all land): Hilly, rising to 1255 meters a.s.l. - thickly
forested
RIVERS
Three main rivers:
Corentyne
– forms Western boundary
Marowyne - forms Eastern boundary
Suriname River
- is central, with the capital city Paramaribo about 7 km upriver.
All navigable
up to a point, with Main Ocean Shipping Docks: at Paramaribo Harbour.
Smaller
important rivers are the Coppename and
the Nickerie.
MAJOR
TRADING PARTNERS
Exports
to:
Holland,
USA, United
Kingdom, Netherlands
Antilles
Imports from:
Holland,
USA, Trinidad
& Tobago
PRINCIPAL
EXPORTS
Alumina,
Aluminium and Bauxite Ore, Rice, Bananas, Shrimp, Fish and Fish Products,
Timber, Wood and Wood Products, Crude Oil and Petrol
NATURAL
RESOURCES
Ranks
seventeenth (17th) among the most richly endowed in the world.
Immense
eco-tourism potential.
TIME
DIFFERENTIAL
Subtract three
(3) hours from Universal Time
Add
two (2) hours to Eastern
Standard Time
as part of South America
and the Caricom
