MigrantoSurinamese Diaspora
258K Surinamese live abroad — 41% of the population of Suriname
Surinamese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 93% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | 177165 |
| France | 34228 |
| French Guiana | 28615 |
| Belgium | 6731 |
| Guyana | 4717 |
| Curaçao | 3049 |
| Aruba | 2049 |
| Sint Maarten | 574 |
| Brazil | 356 |
| Australia | 156 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 47 |
| Barbados | 46 |
| Norway | 41 |
| Venezuela | 41 |
| Denmark | 33 |
| Guadeloupe | 33 |
| Dominican Republic | 29 |
| Costa Rica | 28 |
| Luxembourg | 24 |
| Saint Lucia | 19 |
| Dominica | 18 |
| Hungary | 14 |
| Greece | 6 |
| Bulgaria | 3 |
| Estonia | 2 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Finland | 1 |
| Lithuania | 0 |
| Slovenia | 0 |
| Bolivia | 0 |
By region
85% of the diaspora lives in Europe
Ask Migo
Tap a question — our AI assistant answers it in chat, with real migration data
Key facts
The Surinamese diaspora in numbers
Most Surinamese abroad live in the Netherlands
69% of the diaspora lives in the Netherlands, while the next country accounts for just 13%.
1 in 2 people born in Suriname lives abroad
258K people born in Suriname now live in other countries — 40.7% of a population of 634.4K.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 85% to 69%.
Surinamese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 201053 |
| 1995 | 214997 |
| 2000 | 224382 |
| 2005 | 240484 |
| 2010 | 243661 |
| 2015 | 238769 |
| 2020 | 250122 |
| 2024 | 258026 |
Largest communities over time
Surinamese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Netherlands | France | French Guiana | Belgium | Guyana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 170264 | 10446 | 15289 | 336 | 1047 |
| 1995 | 180929 | 12590 | 15381 | 430 | 1681 |
| 2000 | 185665 | 16057 | 15472 | 551 | 2314 |
| 2005 | 189795 | 22216 | 20487 | 707 | 3117 |
| 2010 | 186582 | 23644 | 25501 | 1267 | 2443 |
| 2015 | 180157 | 25096 | 23185 | 3197 | 2586 |
| 2020 | 178623 | 32289 | 26064 | 5346 | 2714 |
| 2024 | 177165 | 34228 | 28615 | 6731 | 4717 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Surinamese in each country has changed since the selected year
Surinamese among immigrants in other countries
Where Surinamese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Surinamese live outside Suriname?
Around 258K Surinamese live abroad, the world's #125 largest diaspora.
Where do most Surinamese abroad live?
Most Surinamese live in Netherlands, France and French Guiana — these three countries account for about 93% of all Surinamese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Surinamese population outside Suriname?
Netherlands is home to the largest Surinamese community abroad — 177.2K people, about 69% of all Surinamese living abroad.
What share of the population of Suriname lives abroad?
About 41% of the population of Suriname lives abroad — that's 258K out of a total population of 634.4K.
Is the Surinamese diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Surinamese living abroad has grown from 238.8K to 258K, about 8%.
Where does the data on the Surinamese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Suriname who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
Score countries, regions and cities by what matters to you
Living in Suriname
See the full country overview