People & economy

Madagascar: Population, Economy & Travel Facts

The numbers behind a trip to Madagascar: who lives there, how the economy and prices compare, how many tourists visit, and what healthcare and internet access are like.

Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Population & Geography

Population
26,262,368
#51 of 197 countries
Area
587,041 km²
#48 of 248 countries
Density
44.7 / km²
#172 of 245 countries

Madagascar has a population of 26,262,368 spread across 587,041 km², giving it an average density of 44.7 people per km².

Demographics

Median Age
20.5
Life Expectancy
68.8 yrs
Literacy Rate
74.7%
Government
semi-presidential republic
Religions
GDP by Sector

Population Trends

How a country's age structure is shifting tells you a lot about what to expect on the ground. A growing elderly population often means better healthcare and higher costs, while a young population signals energy and growth but potentially less developed infrastructure.

Age Structure Over Time
Population Growth Rate (%)
Urban vs Rural (%)
Birth & Death Rates (per 1,000)

Economy & Cost of Living

Understanding the local economy helps travellers budget effectively and set expectations. Madagascar is classified as a low income country by the World Bank. Prices are roughly 28% of US levels, meaning your money goes significantly further here: accommodation, food, and transport are very affordable by Western standards.

Income Level
Low income
GDP per Capita
$509
Cost of Living
28% of US
Inflation
9.9%
GDP per Capita (USD)
GDP Growth (%)
Inflation Rate (%)
Employment
GDP/Capita (PPP)
$1,700
Unemployment
3.1%

Tourism

Tourism data reveals how popular a destination is and how much infrastructure exists to support visitors. Tourism accounts for 7.8% of Madagascar's total exports, making it a significant contributor to the economy with solid visitor infrastructure.

Tourism Revenue
$202,000,000
Tourism % of Exports
7.8%
Air Passengers
313,313
International Tourist Arrivals
Tourism Receipts (USD)
Air Passengers Carried
Tourism as % of Exports

Health & Safety Infrastructure

Healthcare quality matters when you're far from home. These indicators help gauge what level of medical care is available In Madagascar there are 0.17 doctors per 1,000 people, which is well below the global average of 1.7. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended.

Physicians
0.17/1k
Hospital Beds
0.32/1k
Health Spend
$17/person
Infant Mortality
44.2/1k
Immunization
46%
Safe Drinking Water
55.3%
Bottled water recommended
Basic Sanitation
15.4%
Health Expenditure per Capita (USD)
Hospital Beds per 1,000

Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure

Staying connected while travelling is essential for navigation, communication, and remote work. In Madagascar, 20% of the population uses the internet, so connectivity can be limited outside major cities, so download offline maps and content before heading to rural areas. There are 75 mobile subscriptions per 100 people.

Internet Users
20.4%
Mobile Subs
75/100
Broadband
0.1/100
Electricity Access
39.4%
Internet Users (%)
Urbanization (%)

Source: World Bank Open Data