Districts of Suriname

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This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Suriname

Suriname is divided into 10 districts.

Contents

Overview[edit]

Districts of Suriname
District Capital Area (km²) Area (%) Population (2004)[1] Population (%) Pop. dens. (inh/km²)
1 Brokopondo Brokopondo 7364 4.5 13,299 2.7 1.8
2 Commewijne Nieuw-Amsterdam 2353 1.4 24,657 5.1 10.5
3 Coronie Totness 3902 2.4 2,809 0.6 0.7
4 Marowijne Albina 4627 2.8 16,641 3.4 3.6
5 Nickerie Nieuw-Nickerie 5353 3.3 36,611 7.5 6.8
6 Para Onverwacht 5393 3.3 18,958 3.9 3.5
7 Paramaribo Paramaribo 183 0.1 243,640 50.0 1331.4
8 Saramacca Groningen 3636 2.2 16,135 3.3 4.4
9 Sipaliwini none 130,567 79.7 28,202 5.8 0.2
10 Wanica Lelydorp 442 0.3 86,072 17.7 194.7
SURINAME Paramaribo 163,820 100.0 487,024 100.0 3.0

History[edit]

The country was first divided up into subdivisions by the Dutch on October 8, 1834, when a Royal Decree declared that there were to be 8 divisions and 2 districts:

  • Upper Suriname and Torarica
  • Para
  • Upper Commewijne
  • Upper Cottica and Perica
  • Lower Commewijne
  • Lower Cottica
  • Matapica
  • Saramacca
  • Coronie (district)
  • Nickerie (district)

The divisions were areas near the capital city, Paramaribo, and the districts were areas further away from the city.

In 1927, Suriname's districts were revised, and the country was divided into 7 districts. In 1943, 1948, 1949, 1952 and 1959 further small modifications were made. On October 28, 1966, the districts were redrawn again, into

  • Nickerie
  • Coronie
  • Saramacca
  • Brokopondo
  • Para
  • Suriname
  • Paramaribo
  • Commewijne
  • Marowijne

These divisions remained until 1980, when yet again, the borders of the districts were redrawn, however, with the following requirements:

  • Changes in the old boundaries were made only if it leads to improved functioning
  • Each area should be developed
  • The new boundaries should respect the identities of indigenous people.

The districts created in 1980 remain to this day.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]