Suriname

Republiek Suriname Republic of Suriname
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Justitia - Pietas - Fides  (Latin) "Justice - Piety - Loyalty"
Anthem: Opo kondreman
Capital (and largest city)	Paramaribo 5°50′N 55°10′W
Official languages	Dutch
Government	Constitutional democracy
- President	Ronald Venetiaan
Independence	from the Netherlands
- Date	November 25, 1975
Area
- Total	163,820 km² (91st) 63,251 sq mi
- Water (%)	1.1
Population
- July 2005 estimate	449,888 (170th)
- 2004 census	487,024
- Density	2.7 /km² (223rd) 7.0 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
- Total	$2.898 billion (161st)
- Per capita	$5,683 (99th)
HDI (2003)	0.759 (medium) (89th)
Currency	Surinamese dollar (SRD)
Time zone	ART (UTC-3)
- Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC-3)
Internet TLD	.sr
Calling code	+597

Suriname, officially the Republiek Suriname, is a country in northern South America. Other common names are Surinam or Sranang. It was formerly known as Nederlands Guyana, Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana. It lies in between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. The southern border is shared with Brazil and the northern border is the Atlantic coast. The most southern parts of the borders with Guyana and French Guiana are disputed (upper Corantijn and Marowijne rivers; the map shows the Guyana and French Guiana versions of the border). The country is the smallest sovereign state in terms of area and population in South America.