Suriname flag information
Description flag of Suriname
five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white red (quadruple width), white and green (double width); there is a large, yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Related country flags
Official country name
Republic of Suriname
Local names
Republiek Suriname (long)
Suriname (short)
Former name
Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Nationality
Surinamer(s) (noun) Suriname (adjective)
Languages spoken
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Government type
constitutional democracy
Population
475,996 ranked 172, (data 2008)
Geography
smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast. The lowest point is unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m.
Coastline
Coastline 386 km.
Land borders
1,703km, Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km.
Administrative divisions
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence
25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)