Suriname (ˈsɜrɨnɑːm; Dutch: Suriname; Sarnami: शर्नम् Sarnam, Sranan Tongo: Sranangron or Sranankondre), officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America. At just under 165,000 km2 (64,000 sq mi) Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America. It has an estimated population of approximately 490,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.
Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America. Situated on the Guiana Shield, it mostly lies between latitudes 1° and 6°N, and longitudes 54° and 58°W. The country can be divided into two main geographic regions. The northern, lowland coastal area (roughly above the line Albina-Paranam-Wageningen) has been cultivated, and most of the population lives here. The southern part consists of tropical rainforest and sparsely inhabited savanna along the border with Brazil, covering about 80% of Suriname's land surface.