Moving to Suriname from Laos

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Laos to Suriname, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LA
16.4
SR
16.2

Suriname performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LA
$123
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LA
3.3
SR
14.8

Laos 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

LA
69.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LA
3.4t
SR
4.1t

Laos 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

LA
2.4
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LA
4.8%
SR
4.0%

Suriname performs significantly better than Laos across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
1.2%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$8,400
SR
$19,000

Laos 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

LA
68.2 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LA
37.8
SR
30.2

Suriname performs significantly better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Vientiane Rain: 65.4 in/yr (1660 mm)
88° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Vientiane Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Vientiane Paramaribo
Jan 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Laos 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.

Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Laos

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

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?

Suriname performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Laos?

Laos 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 3.3 in Laos. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Laos: 52).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 88°F in Vientiane. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Vientiane gets 65.4 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Laos, the official language is Lao.

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At a Glance

LA SR
Population 7,749,595 632,638
Currency Laotian Kip (LAK) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages Lao Dutch
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +856 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191