Country data

Location: South America

Time zone: CET – 4 (during summer time: CET – 5)

Total area: 163,820 km²

Land area: 156,000 km²

Water area: 7,820 km²

Length of the state border: 1,703 km

including:
Brazil: 593 km
French Guiana: 510 km
Guyana: 600 km

Coastline: 386 km

Capital: Paramaribo

Districts: 10
Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Electric current: 130, 220 V / 60 Hz

Telephone code: 00 597 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

Population

Population: approx. 570,000 (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 3.5

Life expectancy: 69 (male), 74 (female)

Official language: Dutch, English

Religions:

• 27% Hindus
• 25% Protestants
• 22% Roman Catholic
• 20% Muslim
• 6% other

Climate

Located in the tropical climatic zone, Suriname has an average daily temperature of 28-30 ° C.

The air humidity is 75 to 85% all year round.

Rainy seasons are mainly in the months from November to February and May to August.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Suriname dollar (SRD)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: There are only a few devices in the larger cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by a few larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: The national currency may be imported and exported up to an amount of 100 SRD. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is limited to the amount of the declared import.

As a foreign currency, it is recommended to bring US dollars in smaller denominations.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g tobacco
• 2 liters of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

In some regions of the Eastern Caribbean, there are occasional robberies on ships near the coast. Do not take unknown guests on board and pay attention to your own safety, especially at night.

Economy

The aluminum processing industry and the timber industry are the country’s most important branches of industry.

During the civil war, the economy came to an almost complete standstill.

Industries: aluminum processing, mining, fishing, food production

Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, fish, gold, wood, copper, platinum, hydropower

Land use:

• Usable land: 0%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 0%
• Forests: 96%
• other: 4%