Moving to Barbados from Suriname

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Suriname to Barbados, and you’d need to navigate life in English.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Suriname to Barbados, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
46 ↓ 2% vs 2015

people born in Suriname live in Barbados · UN DESA

Who's moving to Barbados?

Top countries of origin for Barbados's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

SR
6.5
BB
7.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
BB
10.0

Suriname generally does better on safety, though Barbados leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
BB
$1,153
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

SR
13.6
BB
29.6

Barbados 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

SR
39.0
BB
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
BB
2.5t

Barbados performs significantly better than Suriname across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SR
18.8
BB
37.5
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
BB
87.5%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SR
7.8%
BB
6.5%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$7,070
BB
$28,365

Barbados generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

SR
73.8 yrs
BB
76.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
14.8
BB
9.1

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

Sources: World Bank (2016–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2014–2021), Ministry of Finance (2016), Ministry of Finance, Barbados (2016). How we calculate this

Can you move from Suriname to Barbados?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Suriname and Barbados. To live, work, or study long-term in Barbados, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Barbados's immigration authority.

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Barbados

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

Barbados passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Barbados passport holders can enter Suriname without a 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 Barbados?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Barbados has 37.5 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 Barbados safe for expats?

Suriname generally does better on safety, though Barbados leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Barbados is 7.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.5 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in Barbados compared to Suriname?

Barbados generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Barbados, compared to 13.6 in Suriname. Barbados scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

What language do they speak in Barbados?

The official language in Barbados is English. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR BB
Population 639,850 282,623
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Barbadian Dollar (BBD)
Languages Dutch English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +597 +1246
Time zones 1 1