Moving to Suriname from Madagascar

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Madagascar 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 76°F in Antananarivo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Suriname compared to Madagascar.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MG
22.5
SR
16.2

Suriname performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MG
$63
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MG
1.8
SR
14.8

Madagascar 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

MG
58.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MG
0.1t
SR
4.1t

Madagascar 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

MG
0.1
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MG
11.3%
SR
4.0%

Suriname performs significantly better than Madagascar across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MG
3.1%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MG
$1,700
SR
$19,000

Madagascar 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

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MG
39.0
SR
30.2

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

Data: General Direction of Taxes, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Antananarivo Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1198 mm)
76° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Antananarivo Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 79°/63°F (26°/17°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Antananarivo Paramaribo
Jan 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Madagascar 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.

Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Suriname passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Madagascar.

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?

Suriname performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Madagascar?

Madagascar 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 1.8 in Madagascar. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Madagascar: 35).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 76°F in Antananarivo. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Antananarivo gets 47.2 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Madagascar, the official languages are French and Malagasy.

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At a Glance

MG SR
Population 28,172,462 632,638
Currency Malagasy Ariary (MGA) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages French, Malagasy Dutch
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +261 +597
Time zones 1 1