Moving to Zambia from Suriname

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Suriname to Zambia, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lusaka averages 80°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 Zambia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SR
7.3
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
ZM
17.1

Suriname generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
ZM
2.6

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia 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
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
ZM
0.5t

Suriname generally does better on environment, though Zambia 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
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
ZM
2.8%

Suriname generally does better on infrastructure, though Zambia 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%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
ZM
$3,700

Zambia 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
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
ZM
37.1

Suriname performs better than Zambia 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

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Lusaka
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Lusaka
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Meteorological Service, Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Suriname passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Suriname

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Zambia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.4 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 Zambia safe for expats?

Suriname generally does better on safety, though Zambia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Suriname?

Suriname generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

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

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR ZM
Population 632,638 19,642,123
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages Dutch English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +597 +260
Time zones 1 1