We investigated whether there were differences between the urban and rural areas of the Republic of Suriname
with respect to the racial and age distribution of cancer between 1980 and 2004. Patient information was from the Pathologic
Anatomy Laboratory, relevant population data from the General Bureau of Statistics. Urban and rural cancer incidence
rates (means ± SDs per 100,000 per year) were calculated for cancer overall as well as for the most common malignancies,
and were stratified for the largest ethnic groups, viz. Creole, Hindustani, and Javanese, and for age strata 0-19,
20-49, and 50+ years. Rates for cancer overall and for most leading malignancies were up to 2.5-fold higher in the urban
areas than in the rural areas. Furthermore, rates for urban Creole were 1.5- to 5-fold higher than those for rural Creole as
well as Hindustani and Javanese from either residence. Also, rates for urban individuals of 50+ years were approximately
twice those for rural people of the same age group. These tendencies were most apparent for gastrointestinal, breast, hematological
and prostate cancer. Our findings suggest that there were significant differences between the urban and rural
areas of Suriname with respect to the ethnic and age distribution of cancer.