Moving to Suriname from Brazil

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Brazil to Suriname — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Brazil to Suriname, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paramaribo averages 92°F vs 80°F in Brasilia, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Brazil to Suriname, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
5,566 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in Brazil live in Suriname · UN DESA

Who's moving to Suriname?

Top countries of origin for Suriname's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Brazil and Suriname stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BR
20.6
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BR
15.7
SR
16.2

Brazil generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BR
$2,070
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

BR
21.4
SR
14.8

Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BR
23.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BR
2.3t
SR
4.1t

Brazil performs better than Suriname across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BR
21.0
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BR
1.5%
SR
4.0%

Brazil performs better than Suriname across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BR
8.0%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BR
$18,600
SR
$19,000

Brazil generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BR
75.9 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BR
13.3
SR
30.2

Brazil generally does better on family life, though Suriname leads in literacy rate.

Data: Secretaria da Receita Federal do Brasil, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Brasilia Rain: 61.1 in/yr (1552 mm)
80° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Brasilia Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Brasilia Paramaribo
Jan 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brazil 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.

Brazil passport

Brazil passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Brazil

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

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?

With 20.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Suriname can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Brazil and Suriname.

Is Suriname safe for expats?

Brazil generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Suriname is 7.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 20.6 in Brazil.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Brazil?

Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 14.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Suriname, compared to 21.4 in Brazil. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brazil: 80).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 80°F in Brasilia. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Brasilia gets 61.1 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Brazil, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

BR SR
Population 217,240,060 632,638
Currency Brazilian Real (R$) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages Portuguese Dutch
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +55 +597
Time zones 4 1
Emergency number 190