Madagascar is a unique island nation located off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and distinctive ecological characteristics. As the world's fourth-largest island, Madagascar boasts an...
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With a safety index of 38/100, Madagascar offers below average safety conditions for expats and their families.
Madagascar offers convenient visa on arrival options for most international tourists, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Travelers can obtain a tourist visa at international airports and major ports for stays up to 60 days, with no fee for stays under 15 days.[1][2][7][8] Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival and have two blank pages.[1][2][6] A confirmed return or onward ticket is required, along with proof of accommodation and sufficient funds...
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48% below EU avg
42% below EU avg
53% below EU avg
77% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Antananarivo
Timezone
UTC+03:00
Area
587,041 km²
Population
27,691,019
Madagascar shows a purchasing power index of 16/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$14.95B
HDI
0.5
Quality of Life
31/100
-12 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
7/100
-35 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Madagascar. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable (CPI: 22.5). Groceries (23.6), rent (7.0), and restaurants (15.7) are low compared to NYC=100 baseline, with regional variations in rural areas.
Housing Market
Property prices average 27.5 years of household income, making housing very expensive relative to incomes. Rent index (7.0) offers some affordability.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power index of 14.6 indicates weak buying power. GDP per capita (PPP) around $1,989 in 2024, among world's lowest.
Tax System
Total tax rate 38.3% of commercial profits. Features income tax, VAT on fuel, excise duties, and new mobile transaction tax; progressive but complex with IMF-supported reforms.
Business Environment
Challenging due to poor infrastructure, high bureaucracy, supply constraints, and low Ease of Doing Business rank. Growth in mining, tourism, but regulatory burdens persist.
Social Security
Limited social safety net with minimal healthcare, pension coverage, and unemployment benefits. High poverty (65%) and low HDI (0.501) reflect weak programs.
Madagascar, spanning 587,000 km², features diverse tropical climates influenced by trade winds, monsoons, and altitude. The east coast experiences hot, humid tropical rainforest conditions with heavy rainfall, while the central highlands are milder and cooler.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
65.9
Population
27,691,019
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Madagascar. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Madagascar is under a transitional military-led government following the High Constitutional Court's decision on 14 October 2025 to transfer presidential power to Colonel Michaël Randrianirina amid political deadlock after President Rajoelina's impeachment. A new cabinet was appointed, aiming for elections within two years, while the ruling IRMAR coalition holds a majority in the National Assembly from 2024 elections. The situation reflects ongoing political instability with judicial intervention in executive transitions.
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Population
27,691,019
Currency
MGA
Timezone
UTC+03:00
Calling Code
+261
Week starts on
Monday
Gini Coefficient
42.6 (2012)
Traffic side
right side
Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.