Moving to Suriname from Panama

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Panama 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

How Panama 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

PA
11.3
SR
7.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PA
7.3
SR
16.2

Panama generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PA
$3,318
SR
$1,143
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PA
17.3
SR
14.8

Panama 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

PA
17.0
SR
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
SR
4.1t

Panama 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

PA
15.5
SR
20.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
SR
4.0%

Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Suriname leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
6.7%
SR
7.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$35,800
SR
$19,000

Panama 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

PA
77.6 yrs
SR
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
16.4
SR
30.2

Panama generally does better on family life, though Suriname leads in education spending.

Data: General Directorate of Revenues, Panama, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Panama City Rain: 75.1 in/yr (1907 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Panama City Paramaribo
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) 89°/71°F (32°/22°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) 93°/73°F (34°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) 94°/73°F (34°/23°C)
View all months
Month Panama City Paramaribo
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C)

Data: IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá, Meteorological Service Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama 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.

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Suriname passport holder visiting Panama

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

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 Panama and Suriname.

Is Suriname safe for expats?

Panama generally does better on safety, though Suriname leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Suriname is 7.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.3 in Panama.

How is healthcare in Suriname compared to Panama?

Panama 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 17.3 in Panama. Suriname scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Paramaribo is 92°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Paramaribo receives around 84.6 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.

What language do they speak in Suriname?

The official language in Suriname is Dutch. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

PA SR
Population 4,337,768 632,638
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Surinamese Dollar (SRD)
Languages Spanish Dutch
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +507 +597
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911