Moving to Spain from Suriname

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Suriname to Spain — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Suriname to Spain, and you’d need to navigate life in Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Madrid averages 68°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Suriname to Spain, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2019
3

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

Who's moving to Spain?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Suriname and Spain stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SR
7.3
ES
0.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
ES
3.5

Spain performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
ES
$4,935
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
ES
44.8

Spain 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
ES
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
ES
4.5t

Suriname generally does better on environment, though Spain 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
ES
36.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
ES
43.2%

Spain generally does better on infrastructure, though Suriname leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SR
7.7%
ES
12.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
ES
$46,400

Suriname generally does better on employment & economy, though Spain 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
ES
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
ES
2.5

Spain generally does better on family life, though Suriname leads in education spending.

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

Madrid Rain: 16.6 in/yr (421 mm)
68° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Madrid
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 55°/40°F (13°/4°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 73°/53°F (23°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 86°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 58°/44°F (14°/7°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Madrid
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 50°/37°F (9.8°/2.7°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.7°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 61°/43°F (16.3°/6.2°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 65°/46°F (18.2°/7.7°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 72°/52°F (22.2°/11.3°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.1°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 90°/66°F (32.1°/19.0°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 88°/66°F (31.3°/18.8°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.4°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 67°/51°F (19.4°/10.7°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 56°/43°F (13.5°/6.2°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 50°/38°F (10.0°/3.6°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Meteorological Service, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología Agencia Estatal de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Spain

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

Spain passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
Spain 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 Spain?

With 36.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Spain can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Suriname and Spain.

Is Spain safe for expats?

Spain performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Spain is 0.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in Spain compared to Suriname?

Spain generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Spain, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Spain scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Madrid is 68°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Madrid receives around 16.6 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Spain?

The official languages in Spain are Basque, Catalan, Galician and Spanish. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR ES
Population 632,638 47,163,418
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Euro (€)
Languages Dutch Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +597 +34
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112