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PEOPLE

Language
Dutch is the official language, but English is often used in business settings. Hindi, Javanese and a form of Creole based on African and European languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	0.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	0.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	0.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	0.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	0.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	0.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	0.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	0.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	0.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
0.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Surinam Creole 30 percent, Indo-Pakistani 33 percent, Javanese 16 percent, "Bush People" 10 percent. There is also an Amerindian minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Christian 44 percent (22 percent Catholic, 18 percent Protestant), Muslim 19 percent, Hindu 26 percent
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	74.6 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	74.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	73.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	73.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	73.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	72.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	72.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	72.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1948
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
95 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	29.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	30.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	30.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	30.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	31.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	30.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT -3

Climate description
Tropical, with heavy rainfall year-round. The land was once below sea level, but with the use of drainage systems and dykes it has since been restored to a coastal plain used for growing crops including rice and sugar.

Currency
Surinamese dollar

Telephone dialling code
(+) 597

Driving (left/right)
Left

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	69.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	69.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	69.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	71.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	66.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	66.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	65.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	68.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	68.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	68.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	73.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	72.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	72.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	73.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	27 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	29 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	30 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	30 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	30 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	31 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	26 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	27 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	29 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	39 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	39 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	39 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2000	33 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	85 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	85 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	85 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	85 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	85 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	84 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	72 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	110 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	85	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	89	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	86	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	67	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	77	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	74	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	10 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	13 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	13 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	13 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	13 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	13 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	No data available percent
1995-2000	11 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	7 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	8 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	10 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	92 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	92 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	92 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	82 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	82 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	94 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	93 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Literacy - average

2004	89.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	88.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	94.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - male

2004	92.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	92.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - female

2004	87.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	84.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	No data available percent
2001	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Landlines telephones

2008	161 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	161 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	161 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	162 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	166 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	164 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	164 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	163 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	161 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	633 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	633 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	633 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	466 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	431 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	346 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	226 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	184 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	88 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	96 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	96 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	84 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	71 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	52 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	45 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	33 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	27 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	72 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	72 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	90 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	78 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	49 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	4730 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	4210 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	3680 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	3080 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2320 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	2000 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1750 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	2060 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	2.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	5.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	5.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	8.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	6.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	4.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	-0.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	0.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	13.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	12.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	14.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	23.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	45.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	35.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	54.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	45 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	45 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	50 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	45 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	2.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	2.3 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	2.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	1.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	1.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum is high throughout the year in the three southern districts of the country. In Parimaribo city and the other seven coastal districts the risk is low. Chloroquine, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and mefloquine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	116 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	108 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	100 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	91 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	86 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	80 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	79 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	79 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	50	UNHCR
2007	63	UNHCR
2006	66	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	29	UNHCR
2004	51	UNHCR
2003	No data available
2002	No data available
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of refugees residing here

2008	1	UNHCR
2007	1	UNHCR
2006	No data available
2005	No data available
2004	No data available
2003	3	UNHCR
2002	No data available
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	5.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	5.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003