The World Factbook (1982)/Suriname

by the Central Intelligence Agency

SURINAME

(See reference map IV)

LAND

142,709 km²; negligible amount of arable land, meadows and pastures, 76% forest, 8% unused but potentially productive, 16% built-on area, wasteland, and other Land boundaries: 1,561 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (economic including fishing 200 nm)

Coastline: 386 km

PEOPLE

Population: 356,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate -1.5%

Nationality: noun—Surinamer(s); adjective—Surinamese

Ethnic divisions: 37% Hindustani (East Indian), 31% Creole (Negro and mixed), 15.3% Javanese, 10.3% Bush Negro, 2.6% Amerindian, 1.7% Chinese, 1.0% Europeans, 1.7% other and unknown

Religion: Hindu, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Moravian, other

Language: Dutch official; English widely spoken; Sranan Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population, and is lingua franca among others; Hindi; Javanese

Literacy: 80%

Labor force: 129,000; unemployment 2.6% (1978)

Organized labor: approx. 33% of labor force

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Republic of Suriname

Type: military-civilian rule

Capital: Paramaribo

Political subdivisions: 9 districts before 1980 coup, each headed by District Commissioner responsible to Minister of District Government and Decentralization except for Paramaribo, whose commissioner is responsible to Minister of Home Affairs, not functioning at present; 100 "People's Committees" installed at local level

Legal system: transitional constitution in effect

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November

Branches: new government announced on 1 April 1982—Policy Center makes policy and decisions; Council of Ministers implements decisions; President is a ceremonial figurehead

Government leaders: Lt. Col. Daysi BOUTERSE, Army Commander and strongman; Acting President Lachmipersad Frederick RAMDAT-MISIER

Suffrage: suspended

Elections: no elections planned

Political parties and leaders: Revolutionary Front (December 1981) official party established by Lt. Col. Daysi Bouterse; regular party activity officially suspended, although some continue low-level functioning; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Henck Arron; Nationalist Republic Party (PNR), Edward Bruma (principal leftist party); Progressive Reform Party (VHP), J. Lachmon; Pendawa Lima, S. Somohardjo; Javanese Farmers' Party (KTPI), Willy Soemita; Progressive Suriname People's Party (PSV), Emile Wijntuin; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Pannalal Parmessar

Voting strength (1977): NPK 22 seats, Opposition United Democratic Parties Combination (VDP) 17 seats

Communists: (all small groups) Democratic Peoples Front; Communist Party of Suriname (KPS); People's Party (VP), Ruben Lie Pauw Sam; Revolutionary People's Party (RVP), Edward Narrendorp

Member of: EC (associate), ECLA, FAO, GATT, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMCO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAS, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

ECONOMY

GDP: $822 million (1978); $2,370 per capita (1979); real growth rate 4% (1978)

Agriculture: main crops—rice, sugarcane, bananas; self-sufficient in major staple (rice)

Major industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing

Electric power: 410,000 kW capacity (1981); 1.6 billion kWh produced (1981), 3,500 kWh per capita

Exports: $514 million (f.o.b., 1980 est.); alumina, bauxite, aluminum, rice, wood and wood products

Imports: $501 million (c.i.f., 1980 est.); capital equipment, petroleum, iron and steel, cotton, flour, meat, dairy products

Major trade partners: exports—41% US, 33% EC, 12% other European countries; imports—31% US, 33% EC, 16% Caribbean countries (1977)

Aid: economic—bilateral commitments including Ex-Im (FY70-80) from US, $1.9 million, (1970-79) from other Western countries, $945.0 million; no military aid

Budget: revenue, $273 million; expenditure, $319 million (1980 est.)

Monetary conversion rate: 1 Suriname guilder (S. fl.)=US$0.560

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: 166 km total; 86 km meter gauge (1.00 m) (government owned) and 80 km narrow gauge (industrial lines); all single track

Highways: 8,780 km total; 2,210 km paved, 1,990 km gravel, 2,400 km improved earth, 2,180 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 4,500 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging from 4.2 m to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways while native canoes navigate upper reaches

Ports: 1 major (Paramaribo), 6 minor

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft, leased in

Airfields: 29 total, 28 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: international facilities good; domestic radio-relay system; 21,300 telephones (6.1 per 100 popl.); 6 AM, 2 FM, and 6 TV stations; 2 Atlantic satellite stations

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 63,000; 40,000 fit for military service