Moving to Iceland from Suriname

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Suriname to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2018
1

people moved from Suriname to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SR
7.3
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
IS
45.2

Iceland 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
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
IS
8.5t

Suriname generally does better on environment, though Iceland 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

SR
20.2
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Suriname 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%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SR
72.4 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Suriname 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

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Reykjavik
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Meteorological Service, Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Iceland

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

Iceland passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Iceland 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 Iceland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 38.2 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 Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Suriname?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR IS
Population 632,638 357,603
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages Dutch Icelandic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +597 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112