Discover
The identity of the nation
Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America, but also one of the most diverse in the world. Descendants of Africans, Indians, Javanese, Chinese, Europeans and indigenous peoples share the same territory and form a nation that uses Dutch in schools and government, yet lives in Sranan Tongo (the creole that serves as a common language for nearly the whole population) on the streets and at home. This rare mix of peoples and religions makes the country a true laboratory of coexistence between cultures.
Nearly half of the population identifies as Christian, divided between Catholics, Evangelicals and the historic Moravian Church, which arrived as early as the eighteenth century to evangelize enslaved people and indigenous peoples. Alongside Christians, Hindus and Muslims together make up more than a third of the population, the result of indentured workers arriving from India and Java during the Dutch colonial period. It is one of the few places in the world where these major religions coexist side by side without major conflicts.
In the country’s interior, covered by Amazon rainforest, live the Maroon peoples (descendants of Africans who fled slavery and formed free communities in the forest) and the original indigenous peoples. Many of these communities still follow traditional ethnic religions and live apart from the rest of the country, without roads connecting them to the capital. It is there that most of those who have not yet had a real encounter with the gospel are concentrated.
Suriname is now going through a moment of transition: recent offshore oil discoveries promise to transform the country’s economy in the coming years, bringing wealth, but also the risk that quick money will replace deeper values. It is a strategic time for the Surinamese church, still small amid so much religious diversity, to grow in depth, reach the peoples of the interior and testify that true wealth comes from God.
- Before European colonization, Arawak and Carib indigenous peoples already inhabited the Amazon region.
- 1667 The Dutch take the colony from the English and develop sugar plantations using enslaved African labor.
- 1863 Abolition of slavery; in the following years, indentured workers arrive from India and Java to replace enslaved labor.
- 1954 Suriname becomes a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with internal autonomy.
- 1975 Independence from the Netherlands, on November 25.
- 1980 A military coup interrupts democracy for over a decade.
- 1986-1992 Internal civil war, known as the Interior War, between the government and Maroon rebel groups.
- 1987 A new democratic Constitution is enacted, still in force today.
- Today A stable and diverse republic, entering a new economic cycle with the discovery of offshore oil.
-
Dutchofficial language, used in government, schools and the press
-
Sranan TongoEnglish-based creole, the lingua franca spoken daily by nearly the whole population
-
Sarnamia variety of Hindi spoken by descendants of Indian immigrants
-
Javanesespoken by descendants of Javanese workers (from the island of Java, in Indonesia)
-
Maroon languagessuch as Saramaccan and Aukan, spoken by the Maroon peoples in the country's interior
Suriname is the smallest sovereign country in South America, wedged between Guyana and French Guiana, with the Amazon rainforest covering more than 90% of its territory, making it the most forested country in the world in proportion to its area. Most of the population lives on a narrow coastal strip in the north, while the interior is dominated by dense forest, rivers and the communities of indigenous peoples and Maroons (descendants of enslaved Africans who fled into the forest and formed free communities).
Major cities
- ParamariboCapital, largest city and cultural and economic heart of the country
- Nieuw NickerieSecond largest city, in the northwest, a hub for rice cultivation
- MoengoCity in the northeast tied to bauxite mining
- AlbinaCity on the eastern border, on the banks of the Marowijne River, a crossing point to French Guiana
Climate and temperature
Pom
Baked dish made with grated pomtajer root (a type of local yam), mixed with chicken and citrus juice; considered the country's most traditional dish.
Pastei
Savory pie filled with chicken, of Afro-Surinamese origin, common at parties and celebrations.
Roti
Thin flatbread of Indian origin, served with chicken or lamb curry, potato and green beans.
Bara
Fried dumpling made from seasoned bean batter, eaten mostly at breakfast.
Moksi alesi
Rice mixed with salted meat, shrimp or fish and vegetables, an everyday family dish.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Coexistence between religions
Hindus, Muslims, Christians and practitioners of Afro-Surinamese and indigenous religions live side by side in peace, a rare example of religious harmony.
Ethnic diversity as identity
Descendants of Africans, Indians, Javanese, Chinese, indigenous peoples and Europeans form a single Surinamese people, with no majority ethnicity.
Maroon communities in the interior
The Maroon peoples (descendants of Africans who fled slavery) still maintain their own languages, rites and social organization in the forest today.
Strong ties with the Netherlands
Much of the country's cultural, family and economic life remains connected to the Netherlands, where many Surinamese have emigrated.
Respect for elders and the extended family
Important decisions usually pass through elders and a broad network of relatives.
Music as an expression of faith and culture
From evangelical worship to Hindu bhajan (devotional singing) and Afro-Surinamese drums, each people expresses its faith through music.
- Treating the country as part of a "generic Caribbean" Suriname has its own identity, tied to South America, the Netherlands and Asian and African roots at the same time.
- Ignoring the differences between ethnic groups Confusing Hindus, Javanese, Creoles and Maroons as if they were a single group offends the identity of each people.
- Joking about Afro-Surinamese or indigenous spiritual practices Winti (traditional Afro-Surinamese religion) and indigenous customs deserve respect, not mockery.
- Assuming everyone speaks Dutch fluently In daily life, Sranan Tongo (the local creole) and other mother tongues are used more than official Dutch.
- Being in a hurry during conversations and meetings The pace of conversation and negotiation tends to be calmer and more cordial than in major urban centers.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Winti, the traditional Afro-Surinamese religion, blends faith in ancestral spirits with healing and protection practices, competing with the gospel for the heart of the people.
Many mix Christian elements with Hindu, Muslim or spiritist practices, without a clear surrender to Christ.
The expectation of quick wealth from the new oil discoveries can replace spiritual seeking with greed.
Excessive alcohol consumption is a deep social problem, especially in interior communities.
Beliefs in curses and spells still weigh on family and community decisions, generating fear rather than faith.
Scandals and distrust in institutions weaken the population's hope for the country's future.
Many Surinamese live in the Netherlands, leaving families fragmented by migration and weakening the spiritual fabric of homes.
Maroon and indigenous communities remain far from the gospel, both geographically and spiritually.
A large share of those who call themselves Christian live out their faith in name only, without discipleship or real commitment.
Peaceful coexistence sometimes hides real distances between ethnic groups, making a truly united church difficult.
Religious freedom is a well-established value in Suriname. The Constitution guarantees everyone the right to practice their faith, and the coexistence between Christians, Hindus, Muslims and practitioners of Afro-Surinamese and indigenous religions is generally peaceful, a rare example of harmony between such different traditions within the same territory.
This does not mean there are no challenges. In more traditional Hindu or Muslim families, those who decide to follow Jesus may face rejection and social pressure at home, even without violence or state persecution. Among the Maroon and indigenous peoples of the interior, geographic distance and attachment to ancestral spiritual practices also make full access to the gospel more difficult.
Overall, the Surinamese church lives in an environment of freedom, but still needs to deepen discipleship and reach with greater dedication the groups that remain beyond the reach of a living and transforming Christian faith.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Suriname is home to 22 cataloged people groups, a rare mosaic of descendants of Indians, Javanese, Africans, Europeans and Amazonian indigenous peoples. Most groups already have access to the gospel and have some evangelical Christian presence, the result of the country's long Moravian missionary history. Even so, two peoples remain unreached: the Saramaccans, one of the Maroon peoples (descendants of Africans who fled slavery) of the interior, tied mainly to traditional ethnic religions, and the small, nearly extinct Jewish community of Dutch origin.
- 33K Unreached 5,3%
- 7K Minimally reached 1,1%
- 0 Superficially reached 0,1%
- 128K Partially reached 20,6%
- 454K Significantly reached 73%
- 2 Unreached 9,1%
- 5 Minimally reached 22,7%
- 2 Superficially reached 9,1%
- 7 Partially reached 31,8%
- 6 Significantly reached 27,3%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Judeu Holandês
Saramacano
Hmong njua
Cantonês
East Indian
Chinês Han Hakka
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
about half the cost of living of European cities such as Amsterdam, according to Numbeo
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn a few words in Dutch or Sranan Tongo: few people outside Paramaribo speak English fluently.
- Bring light clothing and protection against the humid climate: heat and humidity are constant year round.
- Respect each community's religious customs: Hindus, Muslims and Christians have different calendars and practices.
- To reach interior communities, plan trips by boat or small aircraft: roads do not reach much of the territory.
- Adjust to the calmer pace of conversations and appointments, common in the local culture.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.