Historically, Asian Surinamese have been present in the country since the 19th century, the majority of which are descended from indentured labourers that were brought to Suriname after the abolition of slavery as replacements for African slaves.
Unlike other Asian population groups, migrants from the Middle East, mainly Maronites from Lebanon but also Syria and Palestine, were not recruited as indentured labourers but migrated later on their own initiative to engage in the textile trade.
The results of a 2012 census in Suriname showed that of the 541,638 residents,[1] 27% are of Indian descent (Hindustani), 14% are Javanese and 13.4% are multiracial.
Instead people of Chinese descent were grouped in "Other" together with Amerindian and White.
[1] According to estimates of the General Statistics Bureau of Suriname, the population was composed of the following groups (2004-2012):