Moving to Suriname from Kenya

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kenya to Suriname, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paramaribo averages 92°F vs 74°F in Nairobi, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Kenya 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

KE
4.9
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KE
28.2
SR
16.2

Kenya generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KE
$274
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

KE
1.0
SR
14.8

Kenya 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

KE
33.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KE
0.4t
SR
4.1t

Kenya 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

KE
1.9
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KE
33.2%
SR
4.0%

Suriname performs significantly better than Kenya across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KE
5.7%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KE
$5,700
SR
$19,000

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KE
69.7 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KE
27.9
SR
30.2

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

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Nairobi Rain: 40.3 in/yr (1024 mm)
74° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Nairobi Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 77°/54°F (25°/12°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/55°F (23°/13°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Nairobi Paramaribo
Jan 76°/53°F (24.5°/11.5°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 78°/53°F (25.6°/11.6°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 78°/56°F (25.6°/13.1°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 75°/57°F (24.1°/14.0°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 73°/56°F (22.6°/13.2°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 71°/52°F (21.5°/11.0°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 69°/50°F (20.6°/10.1°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 71°/50°F (21.4°/10.2°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.5°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 76°/54°F (24.7°/12.5°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.1°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 74°/55°F (23.4°/12.6°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Kenya Meteorological Department Kenya Meteorological Department, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kenya 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.

Kenya passport

Kenya passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Kenya

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Suriname passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Kenya.

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 Kenya and Suriname.

Is Suriname safe for expats?

Kenya generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Suriname is 7.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.9 in Kenya.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Kenya?

Kenya generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 14.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Suriname, compared to 1.0 in Kenya. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kenya: 53).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 74°F in Nairobi. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Nairobi gets 40.3 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Kenya, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

KE SR
Population 55,864,655 632,638
Currency Kenyan Shilling (KES) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages English, Swahili Dutch
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +254 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999