Moving to Suriname from Guatemala

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Guatemala to Suriname — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Guatemala 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 77°F in Guatemala City, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Guatemala to Suriname.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

GT
23.4
SR
6.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GT
12.6
SR
16.2

Guatemala 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

GT
$935
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

GT
12.8
SR
13.6

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GT
40.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GT
1.1t
SR
4.1t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GT
5.3
SR
18.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GT
5.7%
SR
4.0%

Suriname performs significantly better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

GT
2.6%
SR
7.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

GT
$6,598
SR
$7,070

Guatemala generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

GT
72.8 yrs
SR
73.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GT
17.2
SR
14.8

Suriname generally does better on family life, though Guatemala leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Superintendence of the Tax Administration (2016), Ministry of Finance (2016), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Weather in Suriname vs Guatemala

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Guatemala City Rain: 46.7 in/yr (1186 mm)
77° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Guatemala City Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Guatemala City Paramaribo
Jan 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH) Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH), Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Can you move from Guatemala to Suriname?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala 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.

Guatemala passport

Guatemala passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Guatemala

Visa Required
Suriname passport holders need a visa to enter Guatemala.

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Suriname has 18.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Suriname safe for expats?

Guatemala generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Suriname is 6.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 23.4 in Guatemala.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Guatemala?

Guatemala generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 13.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Suriname, compared to 12.8 in Guatemala. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

GT SR
Population 18,687,881 639,850
Currency Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages Spanish Dutch
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +502 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110 —