Suriname: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum

Key figures

Over five years it is up 60.51% from 1,988 in 2020 (9.93% a year on average, compounded). Since 2016 it is up 7,321% from 43 in 2016 (61.37% a year on average, compounded).

What the numbers say

In 2025, Suriname's asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum fell 0.8% on 2024 (from 3,217 to 3,191).

Across the 8 yearly changes before that (2017 to 2024), the average change was +118.4% and a typical year strayed about 202.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 592.2% in 2019 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.8% in 2025. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 399.41 a year. A straight line explains 94% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Suriname had the 81st highest value of the 166 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Suriname in the 2025 ranking

• Eswatini — 78th of 166: 3,511
• South Sudan — 79th of 166: 3,246
• Tajikistan — 80th of 166: 3,238
• Papua New Guinea — 82nd of 166: 3,121
• Luxembourg — 83rd of 166: 3,050
• Thailand — 84th of 166: 2,880

What this measures

Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.

Limitations: Variability in national asylum procedures and processing times can lead to inconsistencies in data reporting, affecting the accuracy of cross-country comparisons. Unregistered asylum claims or informal border crossings may result in incomplete data, underestimating the true scope of the need for protection. Additionally, the changing status of individuals, such as those asylum-seekers that are recognized as refugees, complicates the tracking and categorization of data.

All 10 values

Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in nearby economies

• Argentina — 3,941 (2025)
• Aruba — 0 (2025)
• Bahamas, The — 0 (2025)
• Belize — 1,836 (2025)
• Bolivia — 0 (2025)
• Brazil — 119,651 (2025)
• Cayman Islands — 15 (2025)
• Chile — 9,561 (2025)
• Colombia — 17,421 (2025)
• Costa Rica

More social protection & labor data for Suriname

• Net migration — -967 (2025)
• Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin — 56 (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 27.67% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 42.36% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 35.11% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 51.01% (2025)
• Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 69.04% (2025)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Suriname's asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?

3,191 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2016?

It is up 7,321% from 43 in 2016 (61.37% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 3,217 in 2024 and the lowest 43 in 2016.

How does Suriname rank?

81st highest of 166 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum unusual for Suriname?

In 2025, Suriname's asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum fell 0.8% on 2024 (from 3,217 to 3,191). Across the 8 yearly changes before that (2017 to 2024), the average change was +118.4% and a typical year strayed about 202.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.6 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SM.POP.ASYS.EA, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), uri: https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/download Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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