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Economy - overview:
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The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. However, in 2002, President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raise for civil servants, which threatens his earlier gains in stabilizing the economy. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aid flow, which will allow Suriname to access international development financing. The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $1.469 billion (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.2% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 13%
industry: 22%
services: 65% (2001 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (2002 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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17% (2002 est.)
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Labor force:
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100,000
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
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Unemployment rate:
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17% (2000)
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Budget:
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revenues: $393 million
expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.)
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Industries:
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bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.5% (1994 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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1.959 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 25.2%
hydro: 74.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.822 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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37 million bbl (37257)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (37257)
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Agriculture - products:
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paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
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Exports:
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$445 million f.o.b. (2002)
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Exports - commodities:
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alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
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Exports - partners:
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US 25.3%, Norway 20.4%, France 8.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 6.4%, Iceland 6%, Canada 5.9%, Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
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Imports:
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$300 million f.o.b. (2002)
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Imports - commodities:
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capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
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Imports - partners:
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US 22.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, China 11.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.2%, France 7.5%, Netherlands Antilles 7.2%, Japan 5.7% (2002)
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Debt - external:
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$321 million (2002 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998)
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Currency:
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Surinamese guilder (SRG)
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Currency code:
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SRG
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Exchange rates:
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Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2,346.75 (2002), 2,178.5 (2001), 1,322.47 (2000), 859.44 (1999), 401 (1998)
note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; the government currently allows trading within a band of SRG 500 around the official rate
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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