Suriname is a country.
Suriname ( [ ˈsʊrᵻnæm ] , [ - nɑːm ] or [ - nəm ] , also spelled Surinam ) , officially known as the Republic of Suriname ( Republiek Suriname [ ˌreːpyˈblik ˌsyːriˈnaːmə ] ) , is a sovereign state on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America . At just under 165000 km2 , it is the smallest country in South America . Suriname has a population of approximately 566,000 , most of whom live on the country 's north coast , in and around the capital and largest city , Paramaribo . Suriname is considered to be a culturally Caribbean country , and is a member of the Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) .