Demographics of Suriname

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Demographics of Suriname" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Demographics of Suriname

Population pyramid of Suriname in 2020

Population| 632,638 (2022 est.)
Growth rate| 1.13% (2022 est.)
Birth rate| 15.38 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate| 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy| 72.42 years
Fertility rate| 1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate| 30.25 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate| 2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years| 23.38%
65 and over| 6.55%
Nationality
Nationality| Surinamese
Census populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1921 | 107,723| —
1950 | 198,668| +2.13%
1964 | 324,211| +3.56%
1972 | 379,607| +1.99%
1980 | 354,860| −0.84%
2004 | 492,464| +1.37%
2012 | 541,638| +1.20%
2016 | 558,368| +0.76%
Source:[1] 2016 data[2][3]

This is a demography of the population of Suriname, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population.

Most Surinamese people live in the narrow, northern coastal plain. The population is one of the most ethnically varied in the world. Each ethnic group preserves its own culture, and many institutions, including political parties, tend to follow ethnic lines. Informal relationships vary: the upper classes of all ethnic backgrounds mix freely; outside of the elite, social relations tend to remain within ethnic groupings. All groups may be found in the schools and workplace.

## Population

[edit]

Demographics of Suriname, Data of FAO, year 2005; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[2][3] the total population was 612,985 in 2021, compared to only 215,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 28.6%, 65% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 6.5% was 65 years or older.[4] According to 2012 census, there were 270,629 males and 271,009 females in Suriname.[5]

Year  | Total
population
( × 1000)  | Proportion (%) aged

|
|

0–14  | 15–64  | 65+
1950  | 215  |

40.0%

54.0%

6.0%

1955  | 250  |

43.2%

52.0%

4.8%

1960  | 290  |

47.6%

48.3%

4.1%

1965  | 332  |

48.2%

47.8%

4.0%

1970  | 372  |

48.3%

47.8%

3.9%

1975  | 364  |

47.6%

48.5%

3.9%

1980  | 366  |

39.9%

55.7%

4.4%

1985  | 376  |

35.8%

59.8%

4.5%

1990  | 407  |

33.3%

62.0%

4.7%

1995  | 436  |

32.2%

62.6%

5.2%

2000  | 467  |

30.6%

63.7%

5.7%

2005  | 500  |

29.8%

64.1%

6.1%

2010  | 525  |

28.6%

65.0%

6.5%

## Total and Percent Distribution of Population by Age (Censuses 2004 & 2012)

[edit]

[6]

Age group  | 2004  | 2012

|
|

Number  | Percent  | Number  | Percent
0-14  | 146.389  | 29,81  | 148.767  | 27.47
15-59  | 299.547  | 60.78  | 334.949  | 61.84
60+  | 42.189  | 8.56  | 54.527  | 10.07
Total  | 492.829  | 100  | 541.638  | 100

### Structure of the population

[edit]

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 02.VIII.2004):[7]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 248 046  | 244 783  | 492 829  | 100
0-4  | 26 252  | 25 585  | 51 837  | 10.52
5-9  | 25 200  | 24 209  | 49 409  | 10.03
10-14  | 22 889  | 22 254  | 45 143  | 9.16
15-19  | 23 465  | 23 043  | 46 508  | 9.44
20-24  | 22 437  | 21 406  | 43 843  | 8.90
25-29  | 19 006  | 18 895  | 37 901  | 7.69
30-34  | 19 828  | 19 166  | 38 994  | 7.91
35-39  | 19 179  | 18 100  | 37 279  | 7.56
40-44  | 17 657  | 16 328  | 33 985  | 6.90
45-49  | 12 643  | 12 992  | 25 635  | 5.20
50-54  | 9 933  | 10 487  | 20 420  | 4.14
55-59  | 6 955  | 8 027  | 14 982  | 3.04
60-64  | 6 200  | 7 059  | 13 259  | 2.69
65-69  | 5 148  | 5 454  | 10 602  | 2.15
70-74  | 4 103  | 4 556  | 8 659  | 1.76
75-79  | 2 419  | 2 733  | 5 152  | 1.05
80-84  | 1 235  | 1 618  | 2 853  | 0.58
85-89  | 392  | 677  | 1 075  | 0.22
90-94  | 196  | 294  | 490  | 0.10
95+  | 34  | 95  | 129  | 0.03
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0-14  | 74 341  | 72 048  | 146 389  | 29.70
15-64  | 157 293  | 155 489  | 312 782  | 63.47
65+  | 13 527  | 15 427  | 28 954  | 5.88
unknown  | 2 885  | 1 819  | 4 704  | 0.95

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2011): [8]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 272 690  | 267 220  | 539 910  | 100
0-4  | 24 910  | 24 150  | 49 060  | 9.09
5-9  | 26 400  | 25 160  | 51 560  | 9.55
10-14  | 25 950  | 24 850  | 50 800  | 9.41
15-19  | 24 510  | 23 670  | 48 180  | 8.92
20-24  | 23 270  | 22 500  | 45 770  | 8.48
25-29  | 22 310  | 21 360  | 43 670  | 8.09
30-34  | 21 180  | 20 150  | 41 330  | 7.65
35-39  | 20 130  | 19 110  | 39 240  | 7.27
40-44  | 18 570  | 17 720  | 36 290  | 6.72
45-49  | 16 370  | 15 830  | 32 200  | 5.96
50-54  | 13 940  | 13 730  | 27 670  | 5.12
55-59  | 10 970  | 11 200  | 22 170  | 4.11
60-64  | 8 340  | 8 890  | 17 230  | 3.19
65-69  | 6 200  | 6 870  | 13 070  | 2.42
70-74  | 4 360  | 5 060  | 9 420  | 1.74
75-79  | 2 860  | 3 500  | 6 360  | 1.18
80+  | 2 420  | 3 470  | 5 890  | 1.09
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0-14  | 77 260  | 72 048  | 149 308  | 27.65
15-64  | 179 590  | 176 272  | 355 862  | 65.91
65+  | 15 840  | 18 900  | 34 740  | 6.43

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 13.VIII.2012): [8]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 270 629  | 271 009  | 541 638  | 100
0–4  | 25 968  | 24 580  | 50 548  | 9.33
5–9  | 24 549  | 23 186  | 47 735  | 8.81
10–14  | 26 166  | 24 318  | 50 484  | 9.32
15–19  | 22 772  | 22 336  | 45 108  | 8.33
20–24  | 21 656  | 22 106  | 43 762  | 8.08
25–29  | 21 761  | 22 185  | 43 946  | 8.11
30–34  | 19 355  | 19 696  | 39 051  | 7.21
35–39  | 18 316  | 18 113  | 36 429  | 6.73
40–44  | 18 763  | 18 620  | 37 383  | 6.90
45–49  | 18 083  | 17 948  | 36 031  | 6.65
50–54  | 15 313  | 15 338  | 30 651  | 5.66
55–59  | 10 929  | 11 659  | 22 588  | 4.17
60–64  | 7 734  | 8 763  | 16 497  | 3.05
65-69  | 5 951  | 7 057  | 13 008  | 2.40
70-74  | 4 619  | 5 514  | 10 133  | 1.87
75-79  | 3 393  | 4 163  | 7 556  | 1.40
80-84  | 1 934  | 2 499  | 4 433  | 0.82
85-89  | 743  | 1 235  | 1 978  | 0.37
90-94  | 274  | 438  | 712  | 0.13
95+  | 64  | 146  | 210  | 0.04
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0–14  | 76 683  | 72 084  | 148 767  | 27.47
15–64  | 176 968  | 177 873  | 354 841  | 65.51
65+  | 16 978  | 21 052  | 38 030  | 7.02
unknown  | 2 286  | 1 109  | 3 395  | 0.63

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020): [8]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 300 500  | 302 000  | 602 500  | 100
0–4  | 27 500  | 26 700  | 54 200  | 9.00
5–9  | 26 500  | 25 300  | 51 800  | 8.60
10–14  | 25 500  | 23 900  | 49 400  | 8.20
15–19  | 25 000  | 23 500  | 48 500  | 8.05
20–24  | 24 100  | 23 300  | 47 400  | 7.87
25–29  | 23 300  | 22 800  | 46 100  | 7.65
30–34  | 22 200  | 22 200  | 44 400  | 7.37
35–39  | 21 100  | 21 200  | 42 300  | 7.02
40–44  | 19 900  | 20 000  | 39 900  | 6.62
45–49  | 18 800  | 18 900  | 37 700  | 6.26
50–54  | 17 400  | 17 600  | 35 000  | 5.81
55–59  | 14 800  | 15 500  | 30 300  | 5.03
60–64  | 12 100  | 13 200  | 25 300  | 4.20
65-69  | 8 800  | 10 300  | 19 100  | 3.17
70-74  | 6 000  | 7 500  | 13 500  | 2.24
75-79  | 3 900  | 5 100  | 9 000  | 1.49
80+  | 3 600  | 5 000  | 8 600  | 1.43
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0–14  | 79 500  | 75 900  | 155 400  | 25.79
15–64  | 198 700  | 198 200  | 396 900  | 65.88
65+  | 22 300  | 27 900  | 50 200  | 8.33

## Vital statistics

[edit]

### UN estimates

[edit]

The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates for Suriname.[4]

Period  | Live births
per year  | Deaths
per year  | Natural change
per year  | CBR*  | CDR*  | NC*  | TFR*  | IMR*  | Life expectancy

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

total  | males  | females
1950-1955 | 10 000 | 3 000 | 7 000 | 48.0 | 14.9 | 33.1 | 6.56 | 89 | 56.0 | 54.4 | 57.7
1955-1960 | 12 000 | 3 000 | 9 000 | 46.0 | 12.4 | 33.6 | 6.56 | 76 | 58.7 | 57.0 | 60.5
1960-1965 | 14 000 | 3 000 | 11 000 | 44.8 | 10.6 | 34.2 | 6.56 | 64 | 60.5 | 58.7 | 62.5
1965-1970 | 14 000 | 3 000 | 11 000 | 39.7 | 9.0 | 30.6 | 5.95 | 55 | 62.4 | 60.5 | 64.5
1970-1975 | 13 000 | 3 000 | 10 000 | 34.9 | 8.3 | 26.6 | 5.29 | 49 | 64.0 | 61.7 | 66.5
1975-1980 | 11 000 | 3 000 | 8 000 | 30.2 | 7.4 | 22.8 | 4.20 | 44 | 65.1 | 62.8 | 67.7
1980-1985 | 11 000 | 3 000 | 8 000 | 30.0 | 7.3 | 22.7 | 3.70 | 42 | 66.5 | 63.6 | 69.8
1985-1990 | 10 000 | 3 000 | 7 000 | 25.4 | 7.2 | 18.2 | 3.00 | 39 | 67.1 | 64.0 | 70.7
1990-1995 | 9 000 | 3 000 | 6 000 | 22.5 | 7.1 | 15.4 | 2.60 | 34 | 67.6 | 64.4 | 71.1
1995-2000 | 11 000 | 3 000 | 8 000 | 23.6 | 7.4 | 16.2 | 2.80 | 29 | 67.8 | 64.6 | 71.4
2000-2005 | 10 000 | 4 000 | 6 000 | 21.0 | 7.6 | 13.4 | 2.60 | 24 | 68.1 | 64.8 | 71.7
2005-2010 | 10 000 | 4 000 | 6 000 | 19.1 | 7.3 | 11.9 | 2.42 | 22 | 69.6 | 66.4 | 73.1

* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

### Registered births and deaths

[edit]

Births and deaths[7][9][10] Year  | Population  | Live births  | Deaths  | Natural increase  | Crude birth rate  | Crude death rate  | Rate of natural increase  | TFR

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1948  |  | 6,476  | 2,217  | 4,259  |  |  |  |
1949  |  | 6,473  | 2,243  | 4,230  |  |  |  |
1950  |  | 6,863  | 1,974  | 4,889  |  |  |  |
1951  |  | 7,710  | 1,965  | 5,745  |  |  |  |
1952  |  | 8,453  | 1,917  | 6,536  |  |  |  |
1953  |  | 8,878  | 2,159  | 6,719  |  |  |  |
1954  |  | 9,154  | 1,919  | 7,235  |  |  |  |
1955  |  | 9,458  | 1,989  | 7,469  |  |  |  |
1956  |  | 10,177  | 2,131  | 8,040  |  |  |  |
1957  |  | 10,001  | 2,274  | 7,727  |  |  |  |
1958  |  | 11,151  | 1,942  | 9,209  |  |  |  |
1959  |  | 11,757  | 2,055  | 9,702  |  |  |  |
1960  |  | 11,702  | 2,144  | 9,558  |  |  |  |
1961  |  | 12,835  | 2,310  | 10,525  |  |  |  |
1962  |  | 13,141  | 2,412  | 10,729  |  |  |  |
1963  |  |  | 2,406  |  |  |  |  |
1964  |  |  | 2,292  |  |  |  |  |
1965  |  | 13,253  | 2,378  | 10,875  |  |  |  |
1966  |  | 12,925  | 2,280  | 10,645  |  |  |  |
1967  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1968  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1969  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1970  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1971  |  |  | 2,540  |  |  |  |  |
1972  |  | 12,557  |  |  |  |  |  |
1973  |  | 11,881  |  |  |  |  |  |
1974  |  | 11,809  |  |  |  |  |  |
1975  |  | 10,031  |  |  |  |  |  |
1976  |  | 11,176  |  |  |  |  |  |
1977  |  | 11,099  |  |  |  |  |  |
1978  |  | 10,673  |  |  |  |  |  |
1979  |  | 10,586  |  |  |  |  |  |
1980  | 355,240  | 9,848  |  |  |  |  |  |
1981  | 360,021  | 10,094  |  |  |  |  |  |
1982  | 364,854  | 11,205  | 2,377  | 8,828  |  |  |  |
1983  | 369,752  | 11,823  |  |  |  |  |  |
1984  | 374,716  | 11,501  |  |  |  |  |  |
1985  | 379,746  | 11,704  | 2,275  | 9,429  |  |  |  |
1986  | 384,844  | 10,176  |  |  |  |  |  |
1987  | 390,011  | 9,660  |  |  |  |  |  |
1988  | 395,246  | 9,094  |  |  |  |  |  |
1989  | 400,552  | 10,217  | 2,717  | 7,500  |  |  |  |
1990  | 405,930  | 9,545  | 2,792  | 6,753  |  |  |  |
1991  | 411,397  | 9,104  | 2,573  | 6,531  |  |  |  |
1992  | 416,902  | 9,835  | 2,717  | 7,118  |  |  |  |
1993  | 422,498  | 9,398  | 2,998  | 6,400  |  |  |  |
1994  | 428,170  | 8,418  | 2,842  | 5,576  |  |  |  |
1995  | 433,918  | 8,717  | 2,696  | 6,021  |  |  |  |
1996  | 439,743  | 9,393  | 2,894  | 6,499  | 22.7  | 7.0  | 15.7  |
1997  | 445,647  | 10,794  | 2,878  | 7,916  | 25.8  | 6.9  | 18.9  |
1998  | 451,629  | 10,221  | 2,814  | 7,407  | 24.1  | 6.6  | 17.5  |
1999  | 457,692  | 10,144  | 2,992  | 7,152  | 23.6  | 7.0  | 16.6  |
2000  | 463,837  | 9,804  | 3,090  | 6,714  | 22.5  | 7.1  | 15.4  |
2001  | 470,064  | 9,717  | 3,099  | 6,618  | 20.7  | 6.6  | 14.1  |
2002  | 476,374  | 10,188  | 3,125  | 7,063  | 21.4  | 6.6  | 14.8  |
2003  | 481,146  | 9,634  | 3,154  | 6,480  | 20.0  | 6.6  | 13.4  |
2004  | 492,829  | 9,062  | 3,319  | 5,743  | 18.6  | 6.8  | 11.8  |
2005  | 498,543  | 8,657  | 3,392  | 5,265  | 17.4  | 6.8  | 10.6  | 2.147
2006  | 504,257  | 9,311  | 3,197  | 6,114  | 18.5  | 6.4  | 12.1  | 2.285
2007  | 509,970  | 9,769  | 3,374  | 6,395  | 19.2  | 6.6  | 12.6  | 2.387
2008  | 517,052  | 10,097  | 3,357  | 6,740  | 19.5  | 6.5  | 13.0  | 2.446
2009  | 524,143  | 9,792  | 3,293  | 6,499  | 18.7  | 6.3  | 12.4  | 2.325
2010  | 531,170  | 9,712  | 3,484  | 6,228  | 18.3  | 6.6  | 11.7  | 2.302
2011  | 539,910  | 9,703  | 3,441  | 6,262  | 18.0  | 6.4  | 11.6  | 2.270
2012  | 541,638  | 10,217  | 3,687  | 6,530  | 18.9  | 6.8  | 12.1  | 2.408
2013  | 550,222  | 10,012  | 3,557  | 6,455  | 18.2  | 6.5  | 11.7  | 2.320
2014  | 558,773  | 10,407  | 3,738  | 6,669  | 18.6  | 6.7  | 11.9  | 2.395
2015  | 567,300  | 10,148  | 3,663  | 6,485  | 17.9  | 6.5  | 11.4  | 2.312
2016  | 575,700  | 9,910  | 3,591  | 6,319  | 17.2  | 6.2  | 11.0  | 2.241
2017  | 583,200  | 9,785  | 3,508  | 6,277  | 16.8  | 6.0  | 10.8  | 2.191
2018  | 590,100  | 9,809  | 3,763  | 6,046  | 16.6  | 6.4  | 10.2  | 2.185
2019  | 598,000  | 10,127  | 3,955  | 6,172  | 16.9  | 6.6  | 10.3  | 2.245
2020  | 608,900  | 10,053  | 3,971  | 6,082  | 16.7  | 6.6  | 10.1  | 2.202
2021  | 616,500  | 10,252  | 5,535  | 4,717  | 16.6  | 9.0  | 7.6  | 2.228
2022  | 624,900  | 9,254  | 4,641  | 4,613  | 14.8  | 7.4  | 7.4  | 2.001
2023  |  | 8,926  | 4,423  | 4,503  | 14.1  | 7.0  | 7.1  |

## Ethnic groups

[edit]

Population of Suriname according to ethnic group  Ethnic
group  | Census 1921 | Census 1950[11] | Census 1964[11] | Census 1972[11] | Census 1980[12] | Census 2004[13] | Census 2012[14]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | %
East Indian |  |  | 62,280 | 31.3 | 112,633 | 34.7 | 142,917 | 37.6 |  |  | 135,117 | 27.4 | 148,443 | 27.4
Maroons |  |  | 19,180 | 9.7 | 27,698 | 8.5 | 35,838 | 9.4 |  |  | 72,553 | 14.7 | 117,567 | 21.7
Creole |  |  | 71,657 | 36.1 | 114,961 | 35.5 | 119,009 | 31.4 |  |  | 87,202 | 17.7 | 84,933 | 15.7
Javanese |  |  | 35,270 | 17.8 | 48,463 | 14.9 | 57,688 | 15.2 |  |  | 71,879 | 14.6 | 73,975 | 13.7
Mixed |  |  | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |  |  | 61,524 | 12.5 | 72,340 | 13.4
Amerindian[15] |  |  | - | - | 7,287[16] | 2.2 | - | - |  |  | 18,037 | 3.7 | 20,344 | 3.8
Chinese[15] |  |  | - | - | 5,339[16] | 1.6 | - | - |  |  | 8,775 | 1.8 | 7,885 | 1.5
White[15] |  |  | - | - | 4,322[16] | 1.3 | - | - |  |  | 2,899 | 0.6 | 1,667 | 0.3
Other |  |  | 10,095 | 5.1 | 2,986 | 0.9 | 24,155 | 6.4 |  |  | 2,264 | 0.5 | 7,166 | 1.3
Unknown |  |  | 186 | 0.1 | 522 | 0.2 | 0 | 0.0 |  |  | 1,261 | 0.3 | 1,805 | 0.3
No answer |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31,318 | 6.4 | 1,590 | 0.3
Total | 107,723[citation needed] | 198,668 | 324,211 | 379,607 | 355,240 | 492,829 | 541,638

Ethnic groups of Suriname[17]

Ethnic groups |  | percent
East Indian |

| 27.4%
Maroon |

| 21.7%
Creole |

| 15.7%
Javanese |

| 14%
Mixed |

| 13.4%
Amerindian |

| 3.8%
Chinese |

| 1.5%
White |

| 0.3%
Other |

| 2.5%

* The census used self-identification for ethnic classification.[18]
* Amerindians are the original inhabitants of Suriname.
* East Indians, also known locally as Hindustanis, are those whose ancestors emigrated from northern British India in the latter part of the 19th century.
* Creoles are descendants from slaves from Africa. Prior to the 2004 census, mixed-race people were counted as Creoles.[citation needed] Their ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries.
* The Maroons are descendants from slaves from Africa that escaped to the interior of Suriname. Their proportion has increased considerably during the past decades, from 9% in 1964 to 22% in 2012.
* The Javanese are Asians from formerly Dutch-ruled Indonesia.
* Many Whites are descended from Dutch colonists.

The current population of Suriname will be different to these census figures, as the census records residents, and notes legal visitors, but does not record illegal immigrants. According to estimates there may be as many as:

* 60,000 Brazilians (estimates varies between 20,000 and 80,000) from Brazil.[citation needed] There are also other smaller numbers of South American nationalities.
* 40,000 Chinese,[19] with small communities of Koreans, Japanese and Filipinos.
* 2,000 Arab/Middle Eastern (mostly Christian Lebanese but also Christians from Syria and Palestine).
* 200 Jews who are identified in ethnoreligious terms.
* Suriname has large American expatriate (mostly retiree) communities (about 50,000 Americans live in Suriname).
* Also living in Suriname are Dutch citizens, some of which with a Surinamese background.

### Fertility rate by ethnic group

[edit]

The total fertility rate for Suriname as a whole was 2.53 children per woman aged 15 to 49 in 2012. Maroons had the highest fertility rate, with 4.47 children per woman. On the other hand, Indo-Surinamese had the lowest fertility with 1.78 children per woman.

Total fertility rate by ethnic group in 2012[20] Ethnic group | Total fertility rate | Children ever born

|
|

Maroons | 4.47 | 5.79
Creole | 2.26 | 3.06
East-Indian | 1.78 | 3.15
Javanese | 2.15 | 3.17
Mixed people | 2.12 | 2.77
Smaller minorities | 2.93 | 3.46
Unknown (mostly Maroons as well) | 3.69 | 4.91
Suriname (as whole) | 2.53 | 3.48

## Languages

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Dutch is the official language of Suriname and the mother tongue of around 60% of the population. Sranan Tongo is the lingua franca and second most spoken language of Suriname.

English is mostly used in the business sector mainly to communicate with foreign businesses. It is also used in the hospitality industry to communicate with tourists.

Sarnami Hindustani is spoken by the Surinamese Indian community. Depending on the person this language can be either the mother tongue, second language or third language (after Dutch or Sranan Tongo).

Saramaccan is spoken by the Saramaka tribe of the Maroon community. Aukan is mainly spoken by the Aukan tribe of the Maroon community

Javanese is spoken by the Surinamese Javanese community. Just like Sarnami Hindustani, Javanese can be either the mother tongue, second language or third language (after Dutch or Sranan Tongo) for some.

Hakka and Cantonese is spoken by Surinamese Chinese, mainly as a second language after Dutch. Cantonese was introduced in Suriname by the second wave of Chinese immigrants in 1970. Beginning in the 1990s new migrants from China moved to Suriname, and Putonghua, during circa 2004–2014, became the main Chinese lingua franca in the country.

French is spoken by some Maroons due to the cultural influence from French Guiana, Portuguese mainly by immigrants from Brazil and Portugal, and Spanish due to immigrants from, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries.

Amerindian languages are spoken by the Surinamese Amerindian community. Languages include Carib, Arawak, Tiriyó and Wayana.

## Religion

[edit]

Denomination  | 2012 census[21]

|

#  | %
Catholic Church | 117,261  |

21.6%

Pentecostalism (Full Gospel)  | 60,530  |

11.18%

Moravian Church | 60,420  |

11.16%

Jehovah's Witnesses | 6,622  |

1.2%

Calvinism | 4,018  |

0.7%

Lutheranism | 2,811  |

0.5%

Other forms of Christianity | 17,280  |

3.2%

Sanatani Hindus  | 97,311  |

18%

Arya Samaj Hindus  | 16,661  |

3.1%

Other forms of Hinduism | 6,651  |

1.2%

Sunni Islam | 21,159  |

3.9%

Ahmadi Islam | 14,161  |

2.6%

Other forms of Islam | 39,733  |

7.3%

Javanism | 4,460  |

0.8%

Judaism | 181  |

0.0%

Winti | 9,949  |

1.8%

Other faith  | 4,630  |

0.9%

No faith  | 40,718  |

7.5%

No answer  | 17,082  |

3.2%

Total population  | 541,638  |

100.0%

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT SURINAME" (PDF). CARICOMSTATS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
2. ^ a b "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
3. ^ a b "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950–2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
4. ^ a b "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". esa.un.org. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011.
5. ^ "Censusstatistieken 2012". Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek in Suriname (General Statistics Bureau of Suriname). Presentatie Definitieve Resultaten Census 8 Vol. 1, page 26. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
6. ^ "Downloads - Censusstatistieken 2012 - Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek in Suriname". Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
7. ^ a b "United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics". Unstats.un.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
8. ^ a b c "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
10. ^ "Demographic and Social Statistics". UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
11. ^ a b c "National Census Report: Suriname" (PDF). Caricom. 2009. p. 32\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
12. ^ "National Census Report: Suriname" (PDF). Caricom. 2009. p. 31\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2014. "Except for the 1980 census, all censuses since the first in 1921 included ethnicity as a variable of interest. For unknown reasons, the government did not allow the Census Bureau to include this variable."
13. ^ "National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 Suriname*". UN Human Rights Council. 16 February 2011. p. 7.
14. ^ "Censusstatistieken 2012" (PDF). Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek in Suriname (General Statistics Bureau of Suriname). p. 76\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
15. ^ a b c Where no separate figures are given, these people are included in Other.
16. ^ a b c [citation needed]This is included in Other in the source
17. ^ "South America :: SURINAME". CIA The World Factbook. 20 October 2022.
18. ^ "REPORT ON CENSUS 2004 COVERAGE EVALUATION" (PDF). CENSUS OFFICE GENERAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS. 2006. p. 30.
19. ^ "With Aid and Migrants, China Expands Its Presence in a South American Nation". The New York Times. 10 April 2011.
20. ^ Resultaten achtste (8e) Volks- en woningtelling in Suriname (volume 1) : Demografische en sociale karakteristieken en migratie, 2013 (pdf, 7.8 MB, in Dutch); p. 24
21. ^ 2012 Suriname Census Definitive Results Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek - Suriname.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website - Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek (General Bureau of Statistics), in Suriname.
* Suriname profile - Caribbean Community Statistics

* v
* t
* e

Surinamese people

Indigenous|

* Arawak
* Lokono
* Carib
* Akurio
* Kali'na
* Saloema
* Sikiana
* Tiriyó
* Wayana
* Warao

African|

* Maroons
* Aluku
* Kwinti
* Matawai
* Ndyuka
* Paramaccan
* Saramaka

Asian|

* Chinese
* Indian
* Javanese
* Jewish

European|

* Dutch
* Portuguese

South American|

* Brazilian

* v
* t
* e

Suriname articles

History|

* Colonial governors
* Chairmen of the Estates
* Colonial forces
* Colony of Surinam
* Society of Suriname
* World War II
* Within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
* 1980 coup d'état
* National Military Council
* December murders
* Interior War (1986-1992)
* 1990 coup d'état

Geography|

* Cities
* Environmental issues
* Climate change
* Fauna
* Flora
* Biodiversity
* Protected areas
* World Heritage Sites

Politics|

* Administrative divisions
* Constitution
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Human rights
* LGBT rights
* Law enforcement
* Military
* Commander
* National Assembly
* Chairman
* Political parties
* President
* Vice President
* Prime Minister (defunct)
* Deputy Prime Minister (defunct)
* Supreme Court
* Constitutional Court

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Companies
* Dollar (currency)
* Energy
* Mining industry
* Science and technology
* Telecommunications
* Transport

Society|

* Crime
* Demographics
* Education
* Healthcare
* Languages
* People
* list
* indigenous
* Religion

Culture|

* Anthem
* Coat of arms
* Cuisine
* Flag
* Literature
* Music
* Public holidays
* Sport

* Outline
* Index

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Demographics of the Americas

Sovereign
states|

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Canada
* Chile
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* United States
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Dependencies
and territories|

* Anguilla
* Aruba
* Bermuda
* Bonaire
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Curaçao
* Falkland Islands
* French Guiana
* Greenland
* Guadeloupe
* Martinique
* Montserrat
* Puerto Rico
* Saba
* Saint Barthélemy
* Saint Martin
* Saint Pierre and Miquelon
* Sint Eustatius
* Sint Maarten
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands

* North America
* Central America
* Caribbean
*   * Latin America
*   * South America

* v
* t
* e

Lists of countries by population statistics

Global|

* Current population
* United Nations
* Demographics of the world

Continents/subregions|

* Africa
* Antarctica
* Asia
* Europe
* North America
* Caribbean
* Oceania
* South America

Intercontinental|

* Americas
* Arab world
* Commonwealth of Nations
* Eurasia
* European Union
* Islands
* Latin America
* Middle East

Cities/urban areas|

* World cities
* National capitals
* Megacities
* Megalopolises

Past and future|

* Past and future population
* Estimates of historical world population
* Human population projections
* 1
* 1000
* 1500
* 1600
* 1700
* 1800
* 1900
* 1939
* 1989
* 2000
* 2005
* 2010
* 2015
* Population milestones

Population density|

* Current density
* Past and future population density
* Person-to-arable land ratio

Growth indicators|

* Population growth rate
* Natural increase
* Net reproduction rate
* Number of births
* Number of deaths
* Birth rate
* Mortality rate
* Fertility rate
* Past fertility rate

Life expectancy|

* World
* Africa
* Asia
* Europe
* North America
* Oceania
* South America
* world regions
* past life expectancy

Other demographics|

* Age at childbearing
* Age at first marriage
* Age structure
* Dependency ratio
* Divorce rate
* Ethnic and cultural diversity level
* Ethnic composition
* Immigrant population
* Linguistic diversity
* Median age
* Net migration rate
* Number of households
* Religion / Irreligion
* Sex ratio
* Urban population
* Urbanization

Health|

* Antidepressant consumption
* Antiviral medications for pandemic influenza
* HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate
* Infant and under-five mortality rates
* Maternal mortality rate
* Obesity rate
* Percentage suffering from undernourishment
* Health expenditure by country by type of financing
* Suicide rate
* Total health expenditure per capita
* Health spending as % of GDP
* Body mass index (BMI)

Education and innovation|

* Bloomberg Innovation Index
* Education Index
* Global Innovation Index
* International Innovation Index
* Literacy rate
* Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies
* Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
* Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
* Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
* Tertiary education attainment
* World Intellectual Property Indicators

Economic|

* Access to financial services
* Development aid donors
* Official Development Assistance received
* Employment rate
* Irrigated land area
* Human Development Index
* by country
* inequality-adjusted
* planetary pressures–adjusted HDI
* Human Poverty Index
* Imports
* Exports
* Income equality
* Labour force
* Share of income of top 1%
* Number of millionaires (US dollars)
* Number of billionaires (US dollars)
* Percentage living in poverty
* Public sector
* Unemployment rate
* Wealth inequality

* List of international rankings
* Lists by country

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template