Explore historical and projected climate data, climate data by sector, impacts, key vulnerabilities and what adaptation measures are being taken. Explore the overview for a general context of how climate change is affecting Suriname.
This page presents high-level information for Suriname's climate zones and its seasonal cycle for mean temperature and precipitation for the latest climatology, 1991-2020. Climate zone classifications in the map below use observed, historical data (sourced from the Climate Research Unit [CRU]) and are derived by applying the Köppen-Geiger climate classification methodology. This classification divides climate into five primary climate groups, which are divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five primary groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar). All climates, except for those in the E group are assigned a seasonal precipitation sub-group (second letter). It is important to understand the different climate contexts that exist within a country as well as the surrounding region when analyzing current climates and projected change. Climate classifications are identified by hovering your mouse over the legend. A narrative overview of Suriname's country context and climate is provided following the visualizations.
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Suriname is located on the Northeastern coast of South America. The majority of the country’s land is in the Guyana highlands, which cover 85% of the country. The terrain consists of mostly rolling hills and a narrow coastal plain with swamps. The country’s population is approximately 586,634 (2020) people, of which 90% of the Surinamese population lives in low-lying coastal areas. The economy of Suriname is heavily reliant on the services and extractive industries. Agriculture and forestry sectors are also considered as the country’s commercial importance. Suriname is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The country’s small population, major economic activities, and infrastructure are concentrated along the low-lying, heavily urbanized coastal zone. The country is particularly prone to major threats posed by flooding, drought, and high winds during extreme weather events.
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