What is the official language of Suriname?

The official language of Suriname is Dutch.

Suriname is the only independent country in South America where Dutch is the official language. The language reflects the country’s history as a Dutch colony, known first as Dutch Guiana. Suriname became independent from the Netherlands on 25 November 1975, but Dutch remained central to government, education, law, and formal public life.

Suriname is highly multilingual. Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole, is widely used as a lingua franca, while Hindustani, Javanese, Maroon languages, Chinese varieties, and Indigenous languages are also spoken. Dutch used in Suriname has its own vocabulary and pronunciation, shaped by the country’s diverse population and historical contacts.

A frequent mix-up is to identify Sranan Tongo as the official language because it is prominent in everyday communication. It is culturally important, but Dutch has the official legal status. Suriname’s linguistic pattern also differs from neighboring Guyana, whose official language is English, and French Guiana, which is an overseas department of France.