Moving to Suriname from Guyana

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What to Expect

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

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

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Guyana to Suriname, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
13,557 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in Guyana 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

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GY
16.3
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GY
15.2
SR
16.2

Guyana 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

GY
$1,331
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

GY
14.0
SR
14.8

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guyana leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GY
52.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GY
4.6t
SR
4.1t

Suriname performs significantly better than Guyana 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

GY
13.1
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GY
3.3%
SR
4.0%

Guyana generally does better on infrastructure, though Suriname leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GY
12.4%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GY
$49,800
SR
$19,000

Guyana 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

GY
71.9 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GY
22.1
SR
30.2

Suriname generally does better on family life, though Guyana leads in infant mortality.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Georgetown Rain: 89.1 in/yr (2263 mm)
87° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Georgetown Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 84°/75°F (29°/24°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/75°F (30°/24°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/76°F (30°/24°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Georgetown Paramaribo
Jan 84°/74°F (28.7°/23.2°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 84°/75°F (28.9°/24.1°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 85°/76°F (29.6°/24.2°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 85°/76°F (29.5°/24.4°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 103°/76°F (39.4°/24.2°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 85°/75°F (29.2°/23.8°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 85°/74°F (29.6°/23.5°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 86°/75°F (30.2°/23.8°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.2°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.4°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.2°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 85°/75°F (29.4°/23.7°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Hydrometeorological Service Hydrometeorological Service, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guyana 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.

Guyana passport

Guyana passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Guyana

Visa Free
Suriname passport holders can enter Guyana 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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Suriname has 20.2 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?

Guyana 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 16.3 in Guyana.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Guyana?

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Guyana leads in health coverage index. There are 14.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Suriname, compared to 14.0 in Guyana. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guyana: 76).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 87°F in Georgetown. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Georgetown gets 89.1 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Guyana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GY SR
Population 789,683 632,638
Currency Guyanaese Dollar (GYD) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages English Dutch
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +592 +597
Time zones 1 1