Suriname
Suriname has the highest percentage of the Muslim population in South America. Although the exact proportion is unknown and official statistics indicate around 15%, it is estimated that the proportion of Muslims in Suriname is at least 20%, which means that at least 120 thousand Muslims live in the country. The vast majority of Muslims in the country are Sunni.
Suriname's first introduction to Islam was through slaves brought from West Africa to work in the region by the Dutch during the colonial period. In addition to Muslims coming from Africa in the 17th and 18th centuries, forced laborers coming from South Asia and Indonesia in the second half of the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th century, the Muslim population in the country increased even more; and today, Asian immigrants comprise the majority of Muslims in Suriname. It is estimated that some Muslims from Africa converted to Christianity in the following centuries.
Muslims in the country are known to be socioeconomically poor. Similar to the general situation in the country, Muslims face problems such as poverty, unemployment, and inadequate access to education and health facilities. In the Caribbean region, Muslims in Suriname have more disadvantaged conditions than Muslims in Trinidad and Guyana.
Suriname, one of the two member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in South America, along with Guyana, has more than 200 mosques and non-governmental organizations spread across the country, as well as 6 schools that provide education according to the Islamic curriculum. The main ones are "Organization of Islam", "Suriname Islamic Student Organization", "Muslim League", "Suriname Muslim Council" and "Sahabet al-Islam".
