Suriname
General
Population: 481,267 (2009)
Land Area: 163,270 sq km
Natural Resources: Timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Capital: Paramaribo
Political System: Constitutional Democracya
State Leader: Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan (2000)
Languages: Dutch, English, Sranang Tongo, Caribbean Hindustani, Javanese
Currency: Surinam Dollar (SRD)
Major Religions: Hindu 27,4%, Protestant 25,2%, Roman Catholic 22,8%, Muslim 19,6%, Indigenous Beliefs 5%
Major Ethnicities: Hindustani 37%, Creole, 31%, Javanese 15%, African 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, Caucasian 1%, Other 2%
Life Expectancy: 73,73 years (2009)
Economy
GDP: 2,984 billion (2008)
GDP Per Capita: 8,900 (2008)
GDP Growth Rate: 6% (2008)
GDP Structure: Agriculture 10,8%, Industry 24,4%, Services 64,8% (2005)
Labour Force By Occupation: Agriculture 8%, Industry 14%, Services 78% (2004)
Industries: Bauxite, gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Agriculture Products: Paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens, shrimp; forest products
Tourism Revenue: 52 million (2004)
Unemployment Rate: 9,5% (2004)
Military
Army Size: 1 840 (2004)
Budget: 0,6% of GDP (2006)
Current Situation
Suriname is located in South America. Suriname is bordered by Brazil, France and Guyana. Suriname's biggest export is bauxite, other natural resources make up another large part of the economy. Agriculture is also important. With a cut in foreign aid and opting out of its structural reform program, Suriname's government will have to balance its budget. This might be easier to do then it seems with large deposits of gold and oil, with the proper investments they could more then make up for the shortfall.
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