Suriname

Suriname is a country on the north-eastern coast of South America, bordered by French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. The capital and largest city is Paramaribo. With a population of about 600 000, Suriname is one of the least densely populated countries in the region. The economy is heavily dependent on mining, particularly bauxite and gold, as well as oil production. The currency is the Surinamese dollar. Suriname is a constitutional democracy and a member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Union of South American Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The country has significant natural resources, including substantial bauxite reserves, gold deposits and offshore oil and gas fields operated by state-owned Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname and international partners. Gold mining has expanded considerably in recent decades, with operations such as Merian and exploration activity in the interior greenstone belts. The official language is Dutch, a legacy of Dutch colonial rule that ended with independence in 1975. Suriname's economy remains vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations, and the government has pursued policies to diversify revenue sources and attract foreign investment in the extractive and energy sectors.