Moving to Ethiopia from Suriname

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Suriname to Ethiopia, and you’d need to navigate life in Amharic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Addis Ababa averages 74°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Ethiopia compared to Suriname.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SR
7.3
ET
8.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
ET
17.7

Suriname performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
ET
$86
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
ET
1.1

Ethiopia 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

SR
39.0
ET
46.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
ET
0.1t

Suriname generally does better on environment, though Ethiopia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SR
20.2
ET
0.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
ET
32.3%

Suriname performs better than Ethiopia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SR
7.7%
ET
3.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
ET
$2,800

Ethiopia 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

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
ET
33.5

Suriname performs better than Ethiopia across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Addis Ababa
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 76°/48°F (24°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 71°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 73°/46°F (23°/8°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Addis Ababa
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Meteorological Service, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Suriname passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Ethiopia.
Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Ethiopia: 0.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ethiopia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Ethiopia safe for expats?

Suriname performs better than Ethiopia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ethiopia is 8.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in Ethiopia compared to Suriname?

Ethiopia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Ethiopia, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Ethiopia scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Addis Ababa is 74°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Addis Ababa receives around 45.9 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Ethiopia?

The official language in Ethiopia is Amharic. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR ET
Population 632,638 113,656,596
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Languages Dutch Amharic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +597 +251
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911