Updated
Overview
Brazil has 333 times the population of Suriname: 212.81 million people against 639,850 (2025).
Brazil's economy is 504 times the size of Suriname's, at $2.28T versus $4.52B.
Per person, Brazil is the wealthier of the two: $10,713 against $7,070 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | Suriname | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.28T | $4.52B | 2025 | $2.18T / $4.71B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $10,713 | $7,070 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.3% | 1.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 5.0% | 9.2% | 2025 | 4.4% / 16.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.0% | 7.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $607 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $262 | $125 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 639,850 | 2025 | 221.36 million / 653,605 |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 28.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 2.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.0 yrs | 73.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 66% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 87% | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 163,820 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 3.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 483 Mt | Lower: 2.99 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 2,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (2.3% for Brazil, 1.8% for Suriname).
Suriname runs the hotter price environment: 9.2% inflation versus 5.0%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Suriname: a price level of 31 versus 46 on a US=100 scale.
People and society
Suriname is the younger society: median age 28.6 versus 34.8 years.
Life expectancy is 2.3 years longer in Brazil (76.0 vs 73.8).
Brazil is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 52 times the size of Suriname: 8,515,767 km² versus 163,820 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Brazil is far more densely settled: 25 people per km² against 4.
Military
Brazil fields the larger armed forces: 762,000 personnel against 2,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than Suriname?
- Brazil is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while Suriname covers 163,820 km², so Brazil is 52 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or Suriname?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 639,850 (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than Suriname?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Brazil is richer: $10,713 against $7,070. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $4.52B for Suriname.