Geography & environment — Suriname
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Suriname: South America
Immigration rules and fees change frequently — confirm current requirements on official government or embassy websites.
Location & size
- Geographic Location
South America
- Geographic Coordinates
4 00 N, 56 00 W
- Total Area
63,251 Square Miles 163,820 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
60,232 Square Miles 156,000 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
3,019 Square Miles 7,820 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,058 Miles 1,703 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
- Coastline
240 Miles 386 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
- Highest Point
1,230 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Juliana Top 1,230 m
- Lowest Point
-2 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
- Natural Resources
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
- Irrigated Land
197 Square Miles 511 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
- Suriname's climate is tropical, hot and humid year-round. Daytime temperatures in Paramaribo average 75°F to 90°F. Temperatures in the interior, not moderated by the steady coastal breezes, are generally higher. Seasons are distinguished mainly by more or less rain, with annual rainfall averaging 87 inches. Indeed, locals will tell you that the four seasons of Suriname are: 1) Little Rainy Season (December to February)
- 2) Little Dry Season (March to April)
- 3) Big Rainy Season (May to August)
- and Big Dry Season (September to November). The hottest months of the year are September and October when temperatures average 90 �F (32 �C). Suriname lies outside hurricane and earthquake zones. Parts of Paramaribo experience heavy flooding. Isolated flooding occurs on some city streets and in low-lying areas of Paramaribo for up to 24 hours at a time.
- Terrain
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
- Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
- Total Area
63,251 Square Miles 163,820 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
- Environment - International Agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed,
- but not ratified: none of the selected agreements