MigrantoSurinamese Diaspora
258K Surinamese live abroad — the #125 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 93% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Europe is the leading destination region at 85%
218.2K
39.6K
156
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Suriname.
Netherlands is the primary destination for emigrants
Netherlands attracts 69% of all emigrants from Suriname, while the second-largest destination receives just 13%.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 2 residents of Suriname has emigrated — 258K out of 634.4K, representing 40.7% of the population.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 85% to 69%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 201053 |
| 1995 | 214997 |
| 2000 | 224382 |
| 2005 | 240484 |
| 2010 | 243661 |
| 2015 | 238769 |
| 2020 | 250122 |
| 2024 | 258026 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Suriname as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Suriname
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Surinamese move to?
Most Surinamese have moved to Netherlands, France and French Guiana — these three countries account for about 93% of all Surinamese living abroad.
How many Surinamese live abroad?
Around 258K Surinamese live abroad, making it the #125-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from Suriname changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Suriname has grown from 238.8K to 258K people, a growth of about 8%.
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