Moving to Laos from Suriname

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Suriname to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
LA
16.4

Suriname performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
LA
3.3

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos 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
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
LA
3.4t

Suriname generally does better on environment, though Laos 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
LA
2.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
LA
4.8%

Suriname performs better than Laos 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%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
LA
$8,400

Laos 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
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
LA
37.8

Suriname performs better than Laos 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

Vientiane Rain: 65.4 in/yr (1660 mm)
88° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Vientiane
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Vientiane
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Meteorological Service, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Laos

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

Laos passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Laos 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 Laos?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Laos has 2.4 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 Laos safe for expats?

Suriname performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Suriname?

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR LA
Population 632,638 7,749,595
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages Dutch Lao
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +597 +856
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191