Moving to Suriname from Malawi
What to Expect
Considering a move from Malawi to Suriname? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Malawi to Suriname, and you’d need to navigate life in Dutch. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Paramaribo averages 92°F vs 75°F in Lilongwe, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Suriname compared to Malawi.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Malawi generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Malawi generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Malawi generally does better on environment, though Suriname leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Suriname performs significantly better than Malawi across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Malawi generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Suriname generally does better on family life, though Malawi leads in life expectancy.
Data: Malawi Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Lilongwe | Paramaribo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 78°/61°F (25°/16°C) | 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/45°F (22°/7°C) | 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 80°/57°F (27°/14°C) | 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lilongwe | Paramaribo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°/61°F (25.5°/16.1°C) | 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) |
| Feb | 78°/62°F (25.6°/16.5°C) | 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) |
| Mar | 77°/61°F (24.8°/16.0°C) | 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) |
| Apr | 74°/59°F (23.5°/14.9°C) | 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) |
| May | 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C) | 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) |
| Jun | 69°/46°F (20.4°/7.9°C) | 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) |
| Jul | 69°/44°F (20.3°/6.5°C) | 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) |
| Aug | 71°/44°F (21.9°/6.6°C) | 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) |
| Sep | 77°/48°F (25.1°/8.7°C) | 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) |
| Oct | 81°/53°F (27.2°/11.7°C) | 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 81°/58°F (27.2°/14.2°C) | 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) |
| Dec | 79°/61°F (26.1°/15.9°C) | 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) |
Data:
Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services,
Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Malawi 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.
Malawi passport holder visiting Suriname
Visa Free
Suriname passport holder visiting Malawi
Visa Online (e-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?
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?
Malawi 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 1.8 in Malawi.
How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Malawi?
Malawi 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 0.5 in Malawi. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Malawi: 48).
What's the weather like in Suriname compared to Malawi?
The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 75°F in Lilongwe. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Lilongwe gets 50.7 in.
What language do they speak in Suriname?
The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Malawi, the official languages are Chewa and English.
