Safest cities in Suriname
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in SurinameAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in Suriname, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Demonstrations can become violent and lead to roadblocks and travel disruption. Be careful when travelling around the country and avoid large crowds. Monitor media and follow the advice of local authorities.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsKeep valuables such as your passport, travel documents, driving licence and credit cards secure and keep photocopies in a separate place.
- Attacks against fishing boatsThere have been reports of attacks against fishing boats in and around the waters of Suriname.
- Robberies while travelling in SurinameTourists have been robbed when travelling in central Suriname, away from the coastal areas. Use a well-established tour company if you intend to travel to these parts of the country.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs penaltiesThere are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.
- MoneyCredit cards are not widely accepted outside major hotels. Check with your hotel whether it accepts credit cards. Some cash machines in Paramaribo will accept international credit and debit cards and dispense Surinamese dollars.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Suriname, see information on driving abroad.
- Air travelThe UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Suriname that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from…
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingSuriname is prone to flooding, particularly in the north and centre of the country, during the rainy season in May to August.
- HeatwavesSevere heat can cause problems, particularly with livestock, the young and elderly. Keep in the shade where possible and remain hydrated.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Suriname, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 4.26 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 39.22022
- Human development
- HDI 0.7222023
- Income
- $21,000/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 15.3 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 74/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 53/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 38/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 3.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.78GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 15.7 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 56%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 1.4 doctors /1k2.9 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 0 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 8.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 1.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Suriname (as of 2025).
How Suriname compares
| Measure | Suriname | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.3 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +1.9 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 39.2 | 35.2 | +4.0 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.722 | 0.763 | −0.041 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 15.3 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −0.1 /100k — better for Suriname |
| Rule of law | 53/100 | 52/100 | +1/100 — better for Suriname |
| Corruption perceptions | 38/100 | 39/100 | −1/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 15.7 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −4.0 µg/m³ — better for Suriname |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.1/10 | 3.8/10 | −0.7/10 — better for Suriname |
| Measure | Suriname | South America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 4.3 /100k | 11 /100k | −7.0 /100k — better for Suriname |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 39.2 | 44.2 | −5.0 — better for Suriname |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.722 | 0.786 | −0.064 — better for South America median |
| Road deaths | 15.3 /100k | 16.0 /100k | −0.7 /100k — better for Suriname |
| Rule of law | 53/100 | 48/100 | +5/100 — better for Suriname |
| Corruption perceptions | 38/100 | 35/100 | +3/100 — better for Suriname |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 15.7 µg/m³ | 18.4 µg/m³ | −2.7 µg/m³ — better for Suriname |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.1/10 | 4.7/10 | −1.6/10 — better for Suriname |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- Paramaribo65.1 · #3981 worldwide