Moving to Suriname from Latvia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Latvia to Suriname? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Latvia 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 50°F in Riga, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Suriname compared to Latvia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

LV
3.6
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LV
9.8
SR
16.2

Latvia performs better than Suriname across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LV
$3,034
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LV
33.8
SR
14.8

Latvia 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LV
3.6t
SR
4.1t

Latvia 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

LV
26.4
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LV
1.1%
SR
4.0%

Latvia 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

LV
6.5%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LV
$37,800
SR
$19,000

Latvia performs better than Suriname across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LV
4.8
SR
30.2

Latvia performs better than Suriname across all family life metrics.

Data: State Revenue Service, Latvia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Riga Rain: 24.9 in/yr (633 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riga Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Riga Paramaribo
Jan 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Latvia 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.

Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Latvia

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

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Suriname: 20.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Suriname offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Suriname safe for expats?

Latvia performs better than Suriname across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Suriname is 7.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Latvia.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Latvia?

Latvia 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 33.8 in Latvia. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Latvia, the official language is Latvian.

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At a Glance

LV SR
Population 1,842,226 632,638
Currency Euro (€) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages Latvian Dutch
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +371 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112