Suriname is divided into 10 districts (Dutch: districten).

Overview

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Regions of Suriname by number and name
District Capital Area (km2) Area (%) Population
(2012 census)[1]
Population (%) Pop. dens. (inhabitants/km2)
Suriname Paramaribo 163,820 100.0 541,638 100.0 3.3
1 Brokopondo Brokopondo 7,364 4.5 15,909 2.9 2.2
2 Commewijne Nieuw-Amsterdam 2,353 1.4 31,420 5.8 13.4
3 Coronie Totness 3,902 2.2 3,391 0.6 0.9
4 Marowijne Albina 4,627 2.8 18,294 3.4 4.0
5 Nickerie Nieuw-Nickerie 5,353 3.3 34,233 6.3 6.4
6 Para Onverwacht 5,393 3.3 24,700 4.6 4.6
7 Paramaribo Paramaribo 182 0.1 240,924 44.5 1323.8
8 Saramacca Groningen 3,636 2.2 17,480 3.2 4.8
9 Sipaliwini none 130,567 79.7 37,065 6.8 0.3
10 Wanica Lelydorp 443 0.3 118,222 21.8 266.9

History

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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:[2]

  • 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. In 1968 the districts were redrawn again, into[3]

  • 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 last changes to the districts were in 1985.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Suriname at GeoHive
  2. ^ "Beknopte aardrijkskundige beschrijving van Suriname" (PDF). Boeroes. 1898. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Suriname Districts".
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