Suriname
Americas Β· Capital: Paramaribo
How it is run: Suriname is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Suriname is home to 639,850 people in South America, where people speak Dutch.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
639,850 people
That is about 79 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
163,820 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
Only about 3.9 people per square kilometre β lots of wide open space between towns.
π Size in its region
27th most people in Americas
16th largest by land in Americas.
π£οΈ Official languages
Dutch
π° Money
Surinamese dollar ($)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
73.8 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$7,070
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
65.8% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
25.3% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+597
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.sr
π§ People here are called
Surinamer
π·οΈ Name at home
Suriname
Also written: Sarnam, Sranangron, Republic of Suriname.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Latin American and Caribbean Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Suriname touches 3 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Surinam
French
Surinam
Arabic
Ψ³ΩΨ±ΩΩΨ§Ω
Chinese
θιε
Japanese
γΉγͺγγ
Russian
Π‘ΡΡΠΈΠ½Π°ΠΌ
Portuguese
Suriname
German
Suriname
Put it in perspective π
- United States β the most populated country in Americas β has about 534.2Γ as many people as Suriname.
- Suriname covers roughly 1,560 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Suriname lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 320 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: πΈπ· is the flag of Suriname. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is SR.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Suriname
ποΈ Capital
Paramaribo
π Region
Americas Β· South America
π€ Country code
SR
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Suriname π
π§ Where on the map
4.0Β° N, 56.0Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC-4 β when it is noon in London it is about 08:00 in Paramaribo.
- Suriname sits in South America, in the northern and western half of the globe.
- The capital of Suriname is Paramaribo β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Suriname shares its part of the world with Venezuela. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Suriname is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- πΈπ· is the flag of Suriname. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is SR.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Suriname has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Suriname can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Suriname spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Suriname?
Paramaribo
Which money do people spend in Suriname?
Surinamese dollar ($)
How many countries share a land border with Suriname?
3 β Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana.
Roughly how many people live in Suriname?
639,850 people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.