General

General

Official Name

Republic of Suriname 

Capital

Paramaribo 

Area

1,63,820 Sq. Kms. 

Currency

Surinamese Dollar US$1 = SRD 37.49[As on May 2023]. 

GDP

US$3.52 billion(2022) (Statista)

Unemployment

8.64 %(2022) (Statista)

GDP Per Capita

US$5706(2022) (Statista)

Forest Cover

93% (2021)

CO2 emissions

4.4 metric tons per capita (Year 2019, World Bank)

Tourist Arrivals

279000(2017) (World Bank)

Population

6,12,985 (World Bank, latest figure of 2021)

5,41,638 (Census of 2012)

Age Profile

0 -14 yrs :  23.38%

15 – 24 yrs : 17.2%

25 – 54 yrs : 44.09%

55 – 64 yrs : 8.78%

65 – older :   6.55% 

Life expectancy

71.09/76.16( Male/Female 2021)

Languages

Dutch [English is widely understood], Sarnami, Sranan tongo, Javanese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Hindi

Ethnic groups (As per the census of 2012)

Hindustani – 27.4%; Maroons – 21.7%; Creoles – 15.7%; Javanese – 13.7%; Amerindians – 3.8%; Others – 17.7% 

Religion 

Hindu 22.3%, Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed 0.7%, Lutheran 0.5%) Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8% (CIA Fact Book)

Internet Penetration

66%(2021)

Mobile phones

153.3(per 100 inhabitants)

Urbanisation

66.3%(2021)

Exports

US$2.2 billion(2021) (Trade Map)

US$1.38 billion (2020) (Trade Map)

Imports

US$1.27 billion (2021) (Trade Map)

US$1.53 billion (2020) (Trade Map)

Main Trade Partners

Export: United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Netherlands , Belgium  (2021)

Import: Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Netherlands, China (2021)

Political

Political Structure

Constitutional Democracy, President is both Head of State and Head of Government 

Major Political Parties

VHP, NDP, ABOP, PL & NPS 

Head of State

H.E. Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi

Head of Government

H.E. Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi

India’s Exports (source: DoC, GoI, ND)

2017-18 US$ 17.38 million 

2018-19 US$ 22.58 million 

2019-20  US$ 31.12 million

2020-21  US$ 17.12 million

2021-22  US$ 14.21 million

2022-23  US$ 10.24 million 

India’s Imports (Source: DoC, GoI, ND)

2017-18 US $ 92.76 million 

2018-19 US$ 89.39 million

2019-20  US$ 55.07 million

2020-21 US$ 34.14 million 

2021-22 US$ 28.03 million

2022-23  US$ 41.07 Million 

Major Indian Exports

Boilers, machinery, iron & steel, electrical machinery &equipment, sound recorders, pharmaceutical products, textiles, vehicles, coffee, tea and spices, rubber, paper, tobacco, organic chemicals, furniture, carpets, ceramic products, footwear and printed books 

Major Indian Imports

Wood & Charcoal, base metals, food stuffs and largely timber. 

Indian Investments in Suriname 

Several LOCs projects have been carried out in Suriname. Currently, ongoing projects are: maintenance of Chetak helicopters and upgradation of transmission network. Besides LoC Projects, two Indian Companies M/s Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited India and M/s Transrail are currently executing EPC projects for power transmission in Suriname. Other than this three Indian companies, Garuda Group, Kanha Engineering & Construction Company N.V (providing skilled workers and engineering services) and Vijay Electricals Limited (EPC sector) are in initial stages of setting up their business in Suriname. US$ 5 Mn worth of Indian investment is estimated mainly from trading houses in wood logging industry, hospitality (Restaurants) & retail business.  

Suriname Investments in India

Nil