OVERVIEW

1667 - 1954: Dutch colony (Dutch Guiana)

1954 - 1975: Netherlands' Constituent 

1975: Independence

2020: President Chan Santhoki elected

Democratic Representational Republic

Borders: Atlantic Ocean, French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana

Area: 163,265 sq km (63,037 sq miles) 

Majority of land tropical rainforest

90% of the population live in the narrow northern coastal plain.

Population size: 600,000 (approx.)

- Hindustani (East Indians) 37%

- Creole (African/European) 31%

- Javanese (Southeast Asians) 15%

- Maroons (African descendants) 8%

- Chinese 8%

- European (descendants) 5%

- Amerindian (indigenous) 2%

- Brazilians (illegal miners) est. 40,000

Literacy rate: 94%

Official language: Dutch

Transport: drive on the left

Legal system based on Dutch civil law.

Monetary unit: Suriname dollar (SRD)

Member of CARICOM

GDP per capita: US$8,000

Agriculture’s share of GDP: 10%