 Per the 2012 Census of Suriname, 148,443 citizens of Suriname are of Indo-Surinamese origin, constituting 27.4% of the total population, making them the largest ethnic group in Suriname.Indo-Surinamese are also known locally by the Dutch term "Hindoestanen" (), derived from the word "Hindustani", lit., "someone from Hindustan".Hence, when Indians migrated to Suriname they were referred to as Hindustanis, people of Indian origin.