Another of Paramaribo’s attributes its tropical rainforest climate, distinguished by a monthly average rainfall of 2.4 inches (60 millimeters) throughout the year.
The capital city is Suriname’s financial services center. While few businesses in Paramaribo produce goods used for international trade, the country’s main exports are channeled through financial institutions located in the capital city.
Suriname’s exports totaled US$1.1 billion worth of products around the globe in 2016. The nation’s highest-value exported products are gold, aluminum oxide, refined petroleum oil, bananas and timber according to the International Trade Centre.
Capital Facts for Paramaribo, Suriname: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, Fort Zeelandia, Independence Square, Neveh Shalom Jewish Synagogue and Suriname City Mosque
Famous People
Below, you will find a sampling of the most famous people born in Paramaribo, Suriname:
- Humberto Tan, TV host & soccer reporter (born Oct. 26, 1965)
- Kenneth Bron, reggae singer (born Nov. 1, 1961)
- Kenneth Herdigein, actor (born Jun. 12, 1959)
- Regilio Tuur (aka Tuurrific), professional boxer (born Aug. 12, 1967)
- Rachel Ritfeld, actress (born Jan. 16, 1984)
- Sammy Monsels, Olympic sprinter (born Aug. 2, 1953)
- Jerry Nijman, Olympic heavyweight boxer (born Aug. 10, 1966)
- Pim de la Parra, writer & director (born Jan. 4, 1940)
- Sylvana Simons, TV personality & columnist (born Jan. 31, 1971)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches mostly targeting published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for a resident of Suriname: Surinamese
Population: 240,000 (Paramaribo)
Density: 8,000 people per square mile (3,089 per square kilometer)
Population: 585,824 (Suriname)
Density: 10 people per square mile (4 per square kilometer)
Financial
GDP: US$8.547 billion in 2016 (for Suriname, per CIA World Factbook)
GDP per person: $15,200
Note: The above country-level GDP metrics are on a Purchasing Power Parity basis and are in U.S. dollars. Credible city GDP statistics for Paramaribo were unavailable.
Official currency used in Paramaribo: Surinamese dollar
Research
Research Sources:
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data). Accessed on January 19, 2017
Demographia, World Urban Area, 12th Annual Edition. Accessed on January 19, 2017
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on January 19, 2017
Just Fun Facts, Places: Interesting facts about Suriname. Accessed on January 19, 2017
Official Government Website, Republic of Suriname–Government. Accessed on January 19, 2017
The World Factbook, South America: Suriname, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on January 19, 2017
Wikimedia Commons, City Flags. Accessed on January 19, 2017
Note: Some city flags were unavailable. If so, attribution belongs to Wikimedia Commons for pertinent country flags.
Wikipedia, Paramaribo. Accessed on January 19, 2017
Wikipedia, Paramaribo District. Accessed on January 19, 2017
Wikipedia, Suriname. Accessed on January 19, 2017
Including municipal city limits plus nearby communities, Paramaribo’s built-up urban land area measures 30 square miles (78 square kilometers) with an estimated population of 240,000 residents in 2015.
Suriname’s national population count was 585,824 as of July 2016 living over a total land territory equal to 60,232 square miles (156,000 square kilometers).
Population density is much higher within Suriname’s capital city Paramaribo with an average 8,000 people per square mile (3,100 per square kilometer). Almost half of the total national population lives in Paramaribo.
For Suriname overall, population density drops significantly to an average 10 people per square mile (4 per square kilometer)–placing Suriname among the most sparsely populated sovereign countries in the world.
Suriname won its independence from the Netherlands on November 25, 1975. Fittingly named Suriname’s Independence Day, each November 25 is celebrated as a national holiday.