What Is The Capital Of Suriname?

Where Is Suriname?

The South American nation of Suriname is located on the continent’s northeastern Atlantic coast. French Guiana, Guyana, and Brazil border Suriname to the east, west, and south, respectively. The country also has coastline on the Atlantic Ocean to the north. Suriname encompasses an area of only 165,000 square km, making it the continent's smallest country, and has a population of 558,368.

What Type of Government Does Suriname Have?

Suriname is governed as a parliamentary representative democratic republic. The President of Suriname acts as both the head of government and head of state. The president appoints a cabinet of 16 members to assist in operating the executive wing of the government. The legislative branch of Suriname’s government is composed of a unicameral National Assembly that includes 51 members. The High Court of Justice is the highest court in Suriname, which supervises the activities of the nation's other magistrate courts.

What Is the Capital of Suriname?

Paramaribo serves as Suriname’s capital city. The city occupies an area of 182 square km and has a population of 241,000, which is nearly half of the country's total population, and which make it Suriname's most populous city. The population density in Paramaribo is 1,300 persons per square km.

Paramaribo is located approximately 15 km away from the Atlantic Ocean. The city sprawls out from the banks of the Suriname River, in the country’s Paramaribo District. Paramaribo experiences a tropical rainforest climate with no true dry season.

History of Paramaribo

The area that is now Paramaribo was initially the homeland of indigenous tribes. The Dutch were the first Europeans to establish trading posts in the region, creating a settlement in 1613. A French post was later established near the present-day location of Paramaribo in 1644. In 1650, the English ousted the Dutch and established a settlement protected by a fort named Fort Willoughby. The Dutch regained control of the region in 1667, and Paramaribo became the leading town of the Dutch colony of Suriname. When Suriname gained independence from colonial rule in 1975, Paramaribo remained the capital of the newly independent country.

Role of Paramaribo as the Capital of Suriname?

As the capital of Suriname, Paramaribo is home to important offices of the nation's central government. Suriname's National Assembly meets at the Independence Square in Paramaribo. The Court of Justice and some other important government institutions and ministries are also located in the city. The Presidential Palace, which serves as the office and residence of the President of Suriname, is also located in Paramaribo.

Paramaribo is also financial and business capital of Suriname. All major national financial institutions are headquartered in Paramaribo, and many national and international corporations operate from the city. Tourism is also an increasingly popular sector in the city.