Suriname
Suriname is a small, culturally diverse nation located on the northeastern coast of South America, bordered by Guyana, Brazil, and French Guiana. As the smallest independent country in South America, it covers approximately 163,820 square kilometers...
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With a safety index of 47/100, Suriname offers moderate safety conditions for expats and their families.
Suriname offers visa-free entry for most nationalities, including US, UK, Canada, and Australia citizens, for up to 90 days for tourism or family visits, effective since May 1, 2023. However, all eligible travelers must obtain a mandatory E-Tourist Card online prior to arrival for $50 USD (or equivalent in euros), which serves as a prepaid entry permit and allows single-entry only. The E-Tourist Card must be applied for via the official Suriname e-Visa portal, with proof required at immigration. Passports...
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10% below EU avg
27% below EU avg
30% below EU avg
71% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Paramaribo
Timezone
UTC-03:00
Area
163,820 km²
Population
586,634
Suriname shows a purchasing power index of 20/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$3.62B
HDI
0.7
Quality of Life
47/100
+4 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
8/100
-34 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Suriname. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable (CPI: 42.5). Groceries (51.7), restaurants (39.9), and rent (10.3) are low compared to NYC=100 baseline.
Housing Market
Property prices average 8.2 years of household income. Low rent index (10.3) offers affordability for expats.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power index of 20.0 limits buying capacity despite GDP growth to 3.0% in 2024.
Tax System
Income tax up to 45% with progressive brackets; VAT standard rate around 12-15%. Reforms improve fiscal clarity amid high public debt.
Business Environment
Challenging due to high bureaucracy and debt (88% of GDP in 2024). Growth from oil and gold sectors, but no recent high Ease of Doing Business rank.
Social Security
Basic social protection programs expanded via reforms, covering vulnerable groups. Healthcare and pensions exist but strained by fiscal pressures and 10% unemployment.
Suriname, a small tropical nation in northern South America covering 163,820 km², features a predominantly hot, humid climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation due to its equatorial location. Classified primarily under Köppen-Geiger as tropical monsoon (Am) and tropical rainforest (Af), it experiences high rainfall, especially in the interior rainforests, and consistent warmth year-round.
3 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
70.0
Population
586,634
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Suriname. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Suriname is a presidential republic where President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons of the National Democratic Party assumed office in July 2025 following parliamentary elections and coalition-building. The unicameral National Assembly has 51 seats with no single party holding a majority, emphasizing coalition politics. The country maintains a democratic framework with ongoing electoral reforms and international cooperation.
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Population
586,634
Currency
SRD
Timezone
UTC-03:00
Calling Code
+597
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
57.9 (1999)
Traffic side
left side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.