Suriname/Society

Society in Suriname

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
628.9K(2023)
Population Growth
0.9%(2023)
Fertility Rate
2.25(2023)
Death Rate
6.6 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-1.2K(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
73.6 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
16.2 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
84 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
5.9%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
95%(2021)
Primary Enrollment
86%(2018)
Secondary Enrollment
76.2%(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
6(2022)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
2.9%(2023)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
78.4%(2023)
Access to Electricity
99.6%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
98%(2022)
Urban Population
417.6K(2023)
Rural Population
211.2K(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Suriname

  • Suriname has an estimated population of 629K
    2023
    , with a modest annual growth rate of 0.9%
    2023
    , suggesting a mature demographic transition with stable, but limitated, population increase. The fertility rate of 2.2 births per woman
    2023
    is above replacement level, ensuring sustainable long-term population stability without significant external migration. Net emigration of approximately 1K individuals annually (or 1.9 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    adds pressure to demographic transitions and workforce sustainability.
  • Regarding public health, the country maintains a reasonable health standard with a life expectancy of 73.6 years
    2023
    , though there is scope for further improvements to achieve higher global benchmarks. Concurrently, maternal and child health indicators show solid progress, with child mortality (under 5 years) at 16.2 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality at 84 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    , indicating improving but still developing services. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 5.9% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Strong educational foundations are evident in the high adult literacy rate of 95%
    2021
    , which significantly contributes to human capital development. Complementing this, educational access shows solid progress through 86% primary enrollment
    2018
    and 76% secondary participation rates
    2023
    . This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 2.9% of GDP
    2023
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, the predominantly urban character, with 66% urban population
    2023
    , supports modern economic structures while maintaining important rural-urban linkages. Furthermore, infrastructure development shows strong progress with 100% electricity access
    2023
    and 78% internet penetration
    2023
    , supporting ongoing modernization efforts and enhancing quality of life.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

Managing demographic trends is crucial for long-term economic planning and workforce stability.

Public Health System

Public health outcomes are a core indicator of national development and quality of life. Access to healthcare is essential for sustainable growth.

Human Capital Formation

Educational attainment is a direct driver of economic innovation and global competitiveness. Investment in education is key to unlocking human potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Infrastructure shapes economic efficiency, urbanization patterns, and digital integration, being critical for modern economies.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.