World Factbook
Suriname
Republiek Suriname
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double-width), white, red (quadruple-width), white, and green (double-width); a five-pointed yellow star is centered on the red band meaning: red stands for progress and love, green for hope and fertility, and white for peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of ethnic groups
Capital
name
Paramaribo
etymology
the name comes from the Guaraní words para (water or river) and maribo (inhabitants)
time difference
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
5 50 N, 55 10 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership
Country name
former
Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
etymology
name may derive from the Surinen people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact
local long form
Republiek Suriname
local short form
Suriname
conventional long form
Republic of Suriname
conventional short form
Suriname
Independence
25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
note
note: appeals beyond the High Court are referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice; human rights violations can be appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with judgments issued by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights
highest court(s)
High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges)
subordinate courts
cantonal courts
judge selection and term of office
court judges appointed by the national president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the Order of Private Attorneys; judges serve for life
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
election results
2025: Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA 2020: Chandrikapersad "Chan" SANTOKHI elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA 2015: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA
head of government
President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
most recent election date
6 July 2025
election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits)
expected date of next election
2030
National holiday
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
National color(s)
green, white, red, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n); Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c); Jodensavanne Archaeological Site: Jodensavanne Settlement and Cassipora Creek Cemetery (c)
Political parties
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91 General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP National Democratic Party or NDP National Party of Suriname or NPS Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI People's Alliance (Pertjajah Luhur) or PL Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union or PALU Progressive Reform Party or VHP Reform and Renewal Movement or HVB Surinamese Labor Party or SPA
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
51 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Assembly (Nationale Assemblee)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
5/25/2025
expected date of next election
May 2030
percentage of women in chamber
31.4%
parties elected and seats per party
National Democratic Party (NDP) (18); Progressive Reform Party (VHP) (17); National Party of Suriname (NPS) (6); General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) (6); Other (4)
National anthem(s)
title
"God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
history
adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday-school song written in 1893; contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo
lyrics/music
Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY
National symbol(s)
royal palm, faya lobi (flower)
Administrative divisions
10 districts ( distrikten , singular - distrikt ); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 629-4769
chancery
4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 629-4302
chief of mission
Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022)
consulate(s) general
Miami
email address and website
amb.vs@gov.sr https://surinameembassy.org/index.html
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[597] 551-524
embassy
165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo
telephone
[597] 556-700
mailing address
3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington DC 20521-3390
chief of mission
Ambassador Robert J. FAUCHER (since 31 January 2023)
email address and website
caparamar@state.gov https://sr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction