Suriname
About Suriname
Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a sovereign country located in South America, specifically within the South America subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Paramaribo, and the country is home to approximately 617 thousand people. In its native language, the country is known as “Suriname”. Dutch serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Suriname. The official currency in circulation is the Surinamese dollar ($), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Suriname is widely recognised for its Dutch colonial architecture, Maroon culture and pristine rainforest. People from Suriname are referred to as Surinamer.
Geography & climate
Suriname covers approximately 163,820 km² of territory, making it a mid-sized country by land area. It shares land borders with 3 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Suriname sits in the Northern and Western Hemisphere, at roughly 4.0° N, 56.0° W. Standard civil time follows UTC-03:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Suriname can be summarised as: amazonian coast with tropical & humid. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.
People, language & society
With roughly 617 thousand inhabitants, Suriname is a small nation in terms of population. The principal spoken language is Dutch, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Citizens are formally known in English as Surinamer, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Surinamese dollar ($) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.
Quick facts at a glance
- 🏙️ CapitalParamaribo
- 📛 Official nameRepublic of Suriname
- 🗣️ Native nameSuriname
- 🧑 DemonymSurinamer
- 📍 RegionNorthern South America
- 🌐 SubregionSouth America
- 📐 Area163,820 km²
- 👥 Population617 thousand
- 🌡️ ClimateAmazonian coast · Tropical & humid
- 🗺️ Land borders3
- 💬 LanguageDutch
- 💰 CurrencySurinamese dollar ($)
- 📞 Calling code+597
- 🌐 Internet TLD.sr
- 🚗 Drives onleft side
- 🕐 Time zoneUTC-03:00
- 🇺🇳 UN memberYes
Practical travel & daily-life info
Visitors planning a trip to Suriname should familiarise themselves with the capital, Paramaribo, the local time zone (UTC-03:00), the local currency (Surinamese dollar). The international dialling prefix is +597, which is required when phoning a Suriname number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the left side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .sr, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.
Government & global standing
Suriname is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Suriname is generally classified within the South America region and more specifically the South America subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "Northern South America" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.
Bordering countries
Suriname shares land borders with 3 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:
Did you know?
Suriname is the only Dutch-speaking country in South America and the smallest sovereign state on the continent — yet about 93% of it is still covered by virgin Amazon rainforest.
Suriname in the GlobeIQ atlas
Inside the GlobeIQ game, Suriname appears as a tougher puzzle reserved for geography fans who can pick up subtler hints. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Suriname carries the personality tags “🇳🇱 Dutch South America” and “🌳 93% Rainforest”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Suriname to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.