About Suriname

Despite Suriname’s low population, the country has a diverse population which comprises of people coming from various ethnicities, religions and linguistic groups.

The name Suriname is considered to be a derivative from a “Taino” indigenous people called “Surinen”. These people inhabited the region at the time of the European contact.

There are two UNESCO Heritage sites in Suriname. Cultural (1): Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (2002); Natural (1): Central Suriname Nature Reserve (2000).

Juliana Top is the highest mountain in Suriname. It is 1,286 m above sea level.

Suriname is famous for its water lilies and orchids.

Suriname also has one of the largest protected areas of rainforest in the world – the central Suriname Nature Reserve. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rainforest covers the southern four-fifths of the country.

Majority of the country’s area, about nine-tenths is covered with heterogeneous forest that contains more than 1000 species of trees.

The tapir is the largest land mammal in Suriname.

Indians are the original inhabitants of Suriname. However, today their population is reduced to just a fraction in the country.

The Netherlands – Suriname’s former colonial ruler is home to some 350,000 people of Surinamese descent.

Between 1973 and 1980, a large portion of the country’s population left and immigrated to the Netherlands, after the announcement of the country’s independence. A large chunk of these people were professionals and skilled workers. However, during the early 21st century, many of the retired workers returned to Suriname.

Suriname is also a member of the Caribbean community.

The above background information was quoted from: https://thefactfile.org