Demographics & population — Suriname
Population size, age structure, migration, ethnicity, language, education, and health indicators.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Demographics & population at a glance
Population size, age structure, migration, ethnicity, language, education, and health indicators. Key figure for Suriname: 609,569
Immigration rules and fees change frequently — confirm current requirements on official government or embassy websites.
Population overview
- Population
609,569
- Population Growth Rate
1.15%
- Urban Population
69.700000
- Population in Major Urban Areas
PARAMARIBO (capital) 278,000
Age & family
- Age Structure
25.150000
- Median Age
28.200000
- Birth Rate - births/1,000 population
17
- Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population
6.15
- Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman
2.04
- Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49
45.6%
- Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49
45.6%
- Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female
1.050000
Migration
- Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population
.57
Ethnicity & language
- Ethnic Groups
Hindustani (also known locally as ""East Indians""; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%, ""Maroons"" (their African ancestors were brought to the count
- Nationality Noun
Surinamer(s)
Education
- Literacy - total population
89.6%
- Literacy - male
92.3%
- Literacy - female
84.1%
- Literacy Definition
age 15 and over can read and write
- Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)
12.000000
Health & living conditions
- Life Expectancy at Birth
71.410000
- Infant Mortality Rate
27.990000
- Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births
27.990000
- Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births
130
- Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population
.91
- Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population
3.1
- Health Expenditures - percent of GDP
5.3%
- Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk
very high
- Obesity - adult prevalence rate
25.1%
- Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved
98.100000
- Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved
88.400000
- Underweight - percent of children under five years
5.8%