Religion in Suriname

Christian communities include Catholic, Moravian, Lutheran, Dutch Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Latter-day Saint congregations. Hindu communities include Sanatan Dharm and Arya Dewaker. Muslim communities include Sunni and Ahmadiyya groups, the Suriname Islamic Association (SIS), the Muslim Missionary Society (MMS) and the Islamitische Federatie Suriname. Smaller communities include Jewish, Baha’i, Buddhist, Brahma Kumaris and Rastafari groups. Winti refers to an Afro-Surinamese religious tradition involving relationships with spiritual beings and nature; Indigenous and Maroon practices can overlap with ethnic identity and with Christianity. Some traditions have formal houses of worship, while others rely on informal or community-based spaces, which can make registration and access to state support more difficult. Religious organizations are concentrated especially in Paramaribo and the coastal area, although communities exist throughout the country. The Constitution protects freedom of religion and belief, prohibits discrimination on religious grounds and protects freedom of assembly and access to the courts. Incitement to hatred or discrimination can result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. A religious group generally needs registration when it seeks state financial assistance; the process can require contact details, historical information and information about its place of worship. Registration does not automatically create a tax exemption. The Ministry of Home Affairs, including Religious Affairs, works with religious organizations, while other relevant bodies include the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the Civil Affairs Directorate, district commissioners and the courts. National public holidays include Holi Phagwa, Ied-Ul-Fitre, Ied-Ul-Adha, Good Friday, Easter and Christmas. Religious calendar dates can change, particularly for Islamic holidays. In the 2025–2026 school year, listed dates included Divali on 20 October 2025, Holi on 4 March 2026, Ied-Ul-Fitre on 20 March 2026 and Ied-Ul-Adha on 27 May 2026. Public schools do not allow religious instruction or prayer groups. Religious private schools include religious instruction in their program, and attendance applies to all enrolled pupils regardless of their faith. Religious organizations operate about half of Suriname’s primary and junior secondary schools. The state provides support linked to registration, including a per-pupil payment, teacher and support-staff salaries and water costs; school operators generally cover buildings, furniture and teaching materials. A 2023 report identified a permitted supply fee of SRD 75 per pupil against estimated total costs of about SRD 900. Religious training is mainly non-formal, while standardization and recognition are still developing through Religious Affairs and the education ministry. Interreligious cooperation takes place through the Interreligious Council in Suriname (IRIS), which includes Hindu, Muslim and Roman Catholic representatives. Activities include joint Eid and World Religious Day events, visits and public statements on violence and social concerns. The government consults religious organizations on national dialogue, civil law and the status of religious ministers. The armed forces also provide Hindu, Muslim, Protestant and Catholic chaplains. State infrastructure support has included mosques and mandirs; Sanatan Dharm reports temples, schools, a mortuary and a cemetery, while SIS reports mosques, schools and a cemetery. A religious wedding ceremony alone does not create a civil marriage in Suriname. Legal marriage takes place through the Burgerlijke Stand, the civil registry, and a civil, religious or traditional ceremony may be conducted before a Buitengewoon Ambtenaar Burgerlijke Stand. The general minimum age is 18, with parental consent relevant up to age 20. Documents may require translation or legalization, and a waiting period of at least 14 days generally applies unless the district commissioner grants an exception. Funerals require compliance with the Begrafeniswet and permission from the district commissioner. Consultation with a Granman can be relevant for careful handling of funerals in the interior, but customary practice does not replace statutory requirements.