Suriname

Suriname

Suriname sits on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. The United Nations groups it under the Latin America and the Caribbean subregion. Its UN M49 code is 740, ISO alpha-2 code SR, ISO alpha-3 code SUR. The World Bank capital field lists Paramaribo. The country is a UN member state. These identifiers come from the UN Statistics Division M49 overview and the World Bank country API ( M49 is a statistical grouping, not a political or territorial judgment; use it for data organisation, not for claims about sovereignty or borders.

The one fact that stays put

Suriname is the only Dutch-speaking sovereign state in South America. That single sentence distinguishes it from every neighbour on the continent and from every other Dutch-speaking jurisdiction in the world. The official language is Dutch. Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole, functions as a widely used lingua franca. Other languages include Sarnami Hindustani, Javanese, and Maroon languages such as Saramaccan and Aukan. English appears in business and tourism. For the most current language data, consult Ethnologue or Suriname’s national statistical office and always cite the edition or census year.

Stable identifiers

The UN M49 overview provides fixed codes for international statistical comparison. For Suriname:

• UN M49 code: 740
• ISO alpha-2: SR
• ISO alpha-3: SUR
• UN region: Americas
• UN subregion: Latin America and the Caribbean
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Paramaribo

These are administrative and statistical. They do not express a position on sovereignty, territorial extent, or recognition beyond what the United Nations and its member states have agreed. IANA maintains the root zone database, which lists SR as the country-code top-level domain (.sr). Suriname is also a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Union of South American Nations, but those memberships are separate from the UN grouping.

Capital and administrative facts

The World Bank capital field lists Paramaribo as the capital. For every changing figure, use the named source and reference year. The World Bank country API returns the capital, region, income level, and lending category for Suriname, and it includes the reference year for each indicator. The UN M49 overview defines Suriname’s statistical codes and region assignments. These two sources are the starting point for any comparison; they are not the only source you should consult.

How to verify current population figures

The number of people living in Suriname changes continuously. The United Nations Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections, while the General Bureau of Statistics Suriname (ABS) conducts the national census. The most recent census was the 2012 census; the next census has been planned but its results are not yet fully published. For the current official estimate, use the UN World Population Prospects or the World Bank population total series (SP.POP.TOTL). Always name the reference year: e.g., “World Bank estimate, 2023” rather than a bare number. Do not mix a UN estimate with a World Bank estimate without checking the reference year and the definition (de facto vs de jure population).

Currency

The Surinamese dollar (SRD). Exchange rates change daily. For a current value, use a named exchange-rate source (e.g., a central bank or a market data provider) and note the date. Do not treat a stored number as current.

Government

Suriname is a republic with an executive president. The president is both head of state and head of government. The National Assembly (De Nationale Assemblée) is the unicameral legislature with 51 seats. The World Bank country profile page is the stable reference for governance and economic structure. For political leadership and cabinet changes, use the most recent official government source (gov.sr) and cite the retrieval date.

Economy

The economy depends heavily on natural resources: gold, oil, bauxite (aluminium ore), and increasingly offshore oil and gas development. Rice, bananas, fish, and timber round out the key sectors. The World Bank groups Suriname as an upper-middle-income economy (per the latest available grouping, July 2024). GDP data should be cited from the World Bank API with the year specified. Use the World Bank Suriname country page to verify current income grouping, GDP, and key indicators at For broader cross-country data, use the World Bank API: Cite the reference year for every figure you use.

People and culture

Population estimates come from the UN World Population Prospects. The society is highly diverse: East Indian, Maroon, Javanese, Creole, and smaller Indigenous communities. The nation is majority Christian, with significant Hindu and Muslim minorities. For any figure you quote, follow the three-source rule: find the same statistic from at least two independent sources, check the definition and reference year, and prefer the primary source over a secondary compilation. If two sources disagree, report the discrepancy rather than averaging them. Data from the UN, World Bank, WHO, and national statistical offices may all differ for the same year because they use different collection methods, definitions, and revision schedules. When in doubt, cite the primary source, name the reference year, and state the definition.

Travel

Consult your own government’s travel advisory and the IATA Travel Centre for visa and entry requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is a neutral, airline-linked source for entry requirements. This guide does not provide travel advice. General safety and visa information must always be verified with the traveller’s own government, e.g., the U.S. State Department, FCDO, or equivalent.

How to compare Suriname to another nation

To compare Suriname to another country, use the UN M49 overview for regional context and the World Bank country API for development indicators. For population comparisons, use the UN World Population Prospects, which publishes annual estimates between censuses. For GDP comparisons, always check whether the source uses nominal or PPP-adjusted values. For inequality comparisons, use the Gini index from the World Bank, but note that it is based on survey data and excludes the very rich and very poor. For human development, use the UNDP HDI, which combines income, education, and health into a single index.

Source literacy

Official development data may lag by one to two years and can be revised. For any figure you quote, follow the three-source rule: find the same statistic from at least two independent sources, check the definition and reference year, and prefer the primary source over a secondary compilation. If two sources disagree, report the discrepancy rather than averaging them. Data from the UN, World Bank, WHO, and national statistical offices may all differ for the same year because they use different collection methods, definitions, and revision schedules. When in doubt, cite the primary source, name the reference year, and state the definition.