With a population of just around 500,000, Suriname is one of the smallest countries in South America. The area was first explored by the Spanish in the 16th century and then settled by the British in the mid-17th century. Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667, and gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975. Suriname was a parliamentary democracy in the years immediately following independence. In 1980 the military seized power and established a military-civilian government. The country remained under considerable control of the military until a general election in 1991 restored a democratically elected government. Suriname is rich in mineral resources, and its economy is highly dependent on exports of bauxite, alumina, gold and oil.