OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Suriname

DATE OF FORMATION: 1975

POPULATION: 439,000

DENSITY: 7 people per square mile

LANGUAGES: Sranan (Creole), Dutch, Javanese, Sarnami Hindi, Saramaccan, Chinese, Carib

RELIGIONS: Hindu 27%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 23%, Muslim 20%, Traditional beliefs 5%

ETHNIC MIX: Creole 34%, South Asian 34%, Javanese 18%, Black 9%, Other 5%

GOVERNMENT: Multiparty elections

CURRENCY: Suriname dollar (guilder until 2004)