Moving to Suriname from Botswana

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Botswana to Suriname? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Botswana to Suriname, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Suriname compared to Botswana.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BW
10.6
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BW
16.5
SR
16.2

Suriname performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BW
$1,310
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BW
3.8
SR
14.8

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BW
55.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BW
2.7t
SR
4.1t

Botswana generally does better on environment, though Suriname leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BW
4.2
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BW
2.4%
SR
4.0%

Suriname generally does better on infrastructure, though Botswana leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BW
23.4%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BW
$17,500
SR
$19,000

Suriname generally does better on employment & economy, though Botswana leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BW
65.6 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BW
25.2
SR
30.2

Botswana generally does better on family life, though Suriname leads in life expectancy.

Data: Botswana Unified Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Gaborone Rain: 21.7 in/yr (552 mm)
83° / 56°F

Avg. annual high / low

Paramaribo Rain: 84.6 in/yr (2148 mm)
92° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Gaborone Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 88°/66°F (31°/19°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/48°F (25°/9°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/47°F (26°/8°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 89°/64°F (32°/18°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Gaborone Paramaribo
Jan 90°/67°F (32.5°/19.4°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.3°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 86°/63°F (30.2°/17.4°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 82°/56°F (27.8°/13.4°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 78°/47°F (25.4°/8.3°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 72°/40°F (22.5°/4.6°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 73°/40°F (22.8°/4.6°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 78°/46°F (25.7°/7.6°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 85°/54°F (29.6°/12.5°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 88°/61°F (31.0°/16.2°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 89°/64°F (31.5°/17.9°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 90°/66°F (32.3°/18.8°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Botswana Meteorological Services Botswana Meteorological Services, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Botswana and Suriname. To live, work, or study long-term in Suriname, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Suriname's immigration authority.

Botswana passport

Botswana passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Botswana passport holders can enter Suriname without a visa.
Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Botswana

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Suriname passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Botswana.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Suriname?

Connectivity is usually fine (Suriname: 20.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Suriname offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Suriname safe for expats?

Suriname performs significantly better than Botswana across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Suriname is 7.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 10.6 in Botswana.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Botswana?

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Botswana leads in suicide rate. There are 14.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Suriname, compared to 3.8 in Botswana. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Botswana: 55).

What's the weather like in Suriname compared to Botswana?

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 83°F in Gaborone. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Gaborone gets 21.7 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Botswana, the official languages are English and Tswana.

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At a Glance

BW SR
Population 2,384,246 632,638
Currency Botswanan Pula (BWP) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages English, Tswana Dutch
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +267 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999