Part 703

@Suriname --------

Map ---

Location: 4 00 N, 56 00 W -- Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Flag ----

Description: 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

Geography ---------

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W

Map references: South America

Area: total area: 163,270 sq km land area: 161,470 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Coastline: 386 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold

Land use: arable land: NEGL% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 97% other: 3%

Irrigated land: 590 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: deforestation as foreign producers obtain timber concessions natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast

People ------

Population: 436,418 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 74,959; female 71,500) 15-64 years: 62% (male 136,287; female 132,407) 65 years and over: 4% (male 9,930; female 11,335) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.6% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 24.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)