Moving to Madagascar from Suriname

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Suriname to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
MG
22.5

Suriname performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
MG
1.8

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar 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
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
MG
0.1t

Suriname generally does better on environment, though Madagascar 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
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
MG
11.3%

Suriname performs better than Madagascar 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%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
MG
$1,700

Madagascar 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
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
MG
39.0

Suriname performs better than Madagascar 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

Antananarivo Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1198 mm)
76° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Antananarivo
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Meteorological Service, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Suriname passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Madagascar.
Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Madagascar 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 Madagascar?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Madagascar has 0.1 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 Madagascar safe for expats?

Suriname performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Suriname?

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR MG
Population 632,638 28,172,462
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages Dutch French, Malagasy
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +597 +261
Time zones 1 1