Suriname Military - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Suriname Army (National Leger, NL): Army, Navy, Air Force, Military Police; Ministry of Justice and Police: Suriname Police Force (Korps Politie Suriname or KPS) (2023)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

1.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

1.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

1.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

1.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 2,000 total personnel (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Suriname Army has a limited inventory comprised of a mix of older, foreign-supplied equipment; in recent years, Suriname has received small quantities of military hardware from several countries, including the US (2022)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2022)

Military - note

key missions for the National Leger include border control and supporting domestic security; the military police has direct responsibility for immigration control at the country’s ports of entry; in addition, the military assists the police in combating crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams (2023)

NOTE: The information regarding Suriname on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Suriname 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Suriname 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.