Photo: WiDi · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Suriname: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Suriname is placed joint 119th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 49.61 (2025); Labour Income Share 49.92 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint119th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Suriname on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
49.61
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Suriname: 49.61. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in South America
- 76.29 Bolivia
- Land neighbours
- Brazil 59.37 · France 51.17 · Guyana 48.41
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
7.834
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Suriname: 7.834. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in South America
- 2.967 Bolivia
- Land neighbours
- Brazil 5.97 · France 7.542 · Guyana 11.96
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
18.38
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Suriname: 18.38. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in South America
- 18.38 Suriname
- Land neighbours
- Brazil 26.08 · France 8.499 · Guyana 25.34
02Over time
Which way Suriname is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
SurinameWorld median
Suriname rose from 41.1 in 2000 to 49.61 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Suriname World median 2025 49.61 57.720 2024 49.73 57.694 2023 49.46 58.158 2022 49.15 57.688 2021 48.61 56.066 2020 47.93 55.691 2019 51.94 57.871 2018 51.90 56.911 2017 51.70 56.738 2016 51.67 56.845 2015 51.55 56.788 2014 51.19 56.774 2013 50.86 56.229 2012 49.53 56.289 2011 49.31 56.297 2010 49.00 56.212 2009 47.66 56.255 2008 47.08 57.308 2007 46.49 56.933 2006 45.91 56.685 2005 45.32 56.129 2004 44.72 55.465 2003 43.80 55.630 2002 42.89 55.843 2001 41.98 56.018 2000 41.10 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
SurinameWorld median
Suriname rose from 38.06 in 2004 to 49.92 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Suriname World median 2025 49.918 46.230 2024 49.860 46.060 2023 49.925 45.900 2022 49.939 45.615 2021 49.160 45.433 2020 51.209 47.267 2019 50.192 46.277 2018 49.176 46.187 2017 48.136 46.467 2016 54.867 46.798 2015 60.130 46.876 2014 55.291 47.281 2013 50.750 46.887 2012 46.779 46.231 2011 42.281 45.679 2010 38.410 46.024 2009 37.765 47.071 2008 35.696 45.312 2007 38.579 45.246 2006 38.469 45.670 2005 38.634 46.265 2004 38.058 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
SurinameWorld median
Suriname fell from 12.87 in 2000 to 7.834 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Suriname World median 2025 7.83 5.08 2024 7.62 5.15 2023 7.70 5.21 2022 7.97 5.34 2021 8.71 6.04 2020 8.97 6.38 2019 7.76 5.36 2018 7.82 5.35 2017 7.91 5.59 2016 7.92 5.90 2015 7.22 6.41 2014 6.94 6.58 2013 6.60 6.71 2012 8.10 6.79 2011 7.54 6.90 2010 7.15 7.04 2009 8.72 6.67 2008 8.85 5.79 2007 9.02 6.00 2006 9.14 6.50 2005 9.30 7.09 2004 9.49 6.80 2003 10.34 6.95 2002 11.19 6.91 2001 12.05 6.96 2000 12.87 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
SurinameWorld median
Suriname rose from 17.65 in 2000 to 18.38 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Suriname World median 2025 18.376 28.67 2024 18.667 29.04 2023 18.854 29.33 2022 18.882 29.67 2021 18.734 30.01 2020 19.395 30.54 2019 19.609 29.98 2018 19.549 30.15 2017 19.454 29.93 2016 19.304 29.91 2015 19.098 30.26 2014 18.657 30.47 2013 18.427 31.14 2012 18.219 31.00 2011 18.064 31.41 2010 17.968 32.37 2009 17.879 32.59 2008 17.859 31.76 2007 17.893 33.47 2006 18.011 34.27 2005 18.150 34.66 2004 18.227 35.51 2003 18.235 35.90 2002 18.187 35.96 2001 17.823 35.27 2000 17.653 35.67
03In context
Suriname beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Suriname and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil | =56th | 59.37 | 59.5 | 5.97 | 26.08 |
 France | 61st | 51.17 | 60 | 7.542 | 8.499 |
| Suriname | =119th | 49.61 | 49.92 | 7.834 | 18.38 |
 Guyana | =125th | 48.41 | 56.11 | 11.96 | 25.34 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Suriname in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Suriname is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Suriname does better than the middle country measured.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.171.61▼ Worsened since 2015
Suriname: 0.17 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1624.3419.16No earlier reading
Suriname: 24.34 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 46th of 179 · derived.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.3294.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Suriname: 0.329 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 9811298▲ Improved since 2015
Suriname: 112 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 383▲ Improved since 2015
Suriname: 8 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38452,26547,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Suriname: 52,265 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 74th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1625.6422.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Suriname: 25.64 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 182 · derived.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Suriname does worse than the middle country measured.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23018,78425,230No real change since 2010
Suriname: 18,784 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 85th of 151 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3644.9153.36No real change since 2015
Suriname: 44.91 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 136th of 182 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8156.7241.81No earlier reading
Suriname: 56.72 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 41st of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6653.8261.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Suriname: 53.82 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 143rd of 182 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0715.1332.07No earlier reading
Suriname: 15.13 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8325.4412.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Suriname: 25.44 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 27th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Suriname: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8826.118.88Moved since 2015
Suriname: 26.1 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 34th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5166.9259.51Moved since 2015
Suriname: 66.92 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 72nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8940.138.89Moved since 2015
Suriname: 40.1 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 79th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8422.4831.84Moved since 2015
Suriname: 22.48 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 119th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.386.97514.38No real change since 2015
Suriname: 6.975 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 120th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95283.03657.95Moved since 2015
Suriname: 283.03 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
No current reading for Suriname
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2016), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2016), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2016), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2016), Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2022), Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2016). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Suriname’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Suriname’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Gender & Equality38th of 1833/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties64th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 58th of 1773/4 keys
- Energy57th of 1652/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing93rd of 2003/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience91st of 1933/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions94th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation94th of 1762/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality90th of 1593/3 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 108th of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital122nd of 1963/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability120th of 1863/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture119th of 1844/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 119th of 1824/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge157th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 160th of 1984/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Suriname can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in South America
Bolivia=29th4/4 keysThis page
Suriname=119th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Suriname and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Suriname on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Suriname rank on work & labour?
Suriname is placed joint 119th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Suriname?
49.61 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Suriname?
49.92 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Suriname compare with Brazil on work & labour?
Brazil is placed joint 56th of 182, and Suriname joint 119th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Brazil 59.37, Suriname 49.61; Labour Income Share: Brazil 59.5, Suriname 49.92; Unemployment Rate: Brazil 5.97, Suriname 7.834; Vulnerable Employment: Brazil 26.08, Suriname 18.38.
How have Suriname’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 41.1 in 2000 to 49.61 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 38.06 in 2004 to 49.92 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 12.87 in 2000 to 7.834 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 17.65 in 2000 to 18.38 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Suriname?
No current reading is published for Suriname on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Suriname’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Suriname (banner) — WiDi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Suriname: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/suriname/work