Situated on the northeast coast of South America, Suriname is the smallest independent country on the continent, with a total area of 163,270 sq km (63,039 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Suriname is slightly larger than the state of Georgia. The nation has an extension of 662 km (411 mi) NE – SW and 487 km (303 mi) SE – NW . Suriname is bordered on the N by the Atlantic Ocean, on the E by French Guiana, on the S by Brazil, and on the W by Guyana, with a total boundary length of 2,093 km (1,301 mi), of which 386 km (239 mi) is coastline. Suriname also claims about 15,000 sq km (5,800 sq mi) of southeastern Guyana and some 5,000 sq km (1,900 sq mi) of southwestern French Guiana.
Suriname's capital city, Paramaribo, is located on the Atlantic coast.