Suriname

__**Natives:**__ Amerindians are the native people of this country and they make up a little over 2% of the population. The tribes of these people include the Arawak, Carib, and Warrau groups which lived along the riverbanks and coastal plains, and Trios, Akurios, and Wyanas along the upper reaches of the rivers.

__**European Colonizers:**__ First explored by Spanish in the 16th century, then the English in the mid-17th century, it became a Dutch colony in 1667. Workers were brought in from India and Java after the abolition of slavery.


 * __Independence:__** Independence from the Netherlands was granted to Suriname in 1975.

__**Ethnic Races:**__ Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) makes up 37% of the population, Creole (mixed white and black) makes up 31%, Javanese makes up 15%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) makes up 10%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, and other 2%. The original inhabitants of the country, the Amerindians make up only 2% of the population.


 * __Infant Mortality Rate:__** Total: 20.11 deaths/1,000 live births


 * __Official Language:__** Dutch is the official spoken language of Suriname, but many other languages are largely spoken around the country, including English and Sranang Tongo, which is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population.


 * __Literacy Rate:__** The literacy rate for both male and female in the country is 89.6% of the population.


 * __Exports__**: Alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, and bananas are among the main exports from Suriname.

United States GNI per Capita: 43,740 US Dollars
 * __GNI per Capita:__** Suriname GNI per Capita: 2,540 US Dollars


 * __Current Events Story:__** Digicel Group and Suriname’s Telesur wrapped up months of negotiations establishing the basis on which their networks will accommodate their subscriber’s traffic. Digicel was licensed by the Suriname government to operate and sell their services in the Suriname market, but the full working force of the mobile company’s services has been waiting to finalize agreements with Telesur. The connection between these two networks will allow subscribers to communicate with each other through voice or text messaging. Suriname is now the 23rd market that Digical is giving its services to.