Republic of Suriname Republiek Suriname Timeline: Differently | ||||||
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Motto: Justitia – Pietas – Fides (Latin) ("Justice – Piety – Freedom") |
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Anthem: God zij met ons Suriname "God be with us, Suriname" |
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Location of Suriname in South America
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Capital (and largest city) | Paramaribo | |||||
Official languages | Dutch | |||||
Religion | Hinduism and Christianity | |||||
Demonym(s) | Surinamese | |||||
Government | Unitary presidential republic | |||||
- | President | Chan Santokhi | ||||
Legislature | National Assembly | |||||
Establishment | ||||||
- | Independence from the Netherlands | 25 November 1975 | ||||
Area | ||||||
- | Total | 163,821 km2 63,252 sq mi |
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Population | ||||||
- | Estimate | 575,990 (136th) | ||||
Currency | Surinamese dollar | |||||
Drives on the | left |
Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a tropical country in northeastern South America. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and borders Brazil to the south and east, and Guyana to the west. At just under 165,000 square kilometers (64,000 square miles), it is the smallest country in South America, ranking 93rd by area globally. The country has a population of approximately 575,000 people, most of whom live in and around Paramaribo, the capital and largest city. This makes Suriname the least populous country in South America, ranking only 136th among the world's countries.
Suriname was a Dutch colony from the 16th century until 1954, when it became a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1975, however, it left that union and became independent. Suriname and its neighbor Guyana are notable for being the only Western countries with a Hindu majority (about 60% in both countries). In both countries, Christianity is the second-most practiced religion.
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