GeoRealityMatch
Vibrant view of Antananarivo's architectural blend during sunset, showcasing diverse rooftops and historical charm.A vibrant aerial view of Antananarivo, Madagascar showcasing diverse architecture and bustling streets.

Madagascar

Africa · Eastern Africa

High safetyVery affordable cost of livingLow development

Incomes are low.

Safety

58th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.849lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#58 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$560national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
7.4New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 85% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 1% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.0K$2.0K$1,952 PPP$599Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $324 a person, $1,416 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2007, $420 a person, $1,493 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2008, $513 a person, $1,577 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2009, $446 a person, $1,480 at PPP, inflation 9%2010, $450 a person, $1,464 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2011, $506 a person, $1,475 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2012, $494 a person, $1,464 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2013, $515 a person, $1,473 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2014, $506 a person, $1,499 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2015, $445 a person, $1,497 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2016, $454 a person, $1,562 at PPP, inflation 6%2017, $492 a person, $1,547 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2018, $500 a person, $1,547 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2019, $500 a person, $1,612 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2020, $451 a person, $1,490 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2021, $483 a person, $1,577 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2022, $504 a person, $1,716 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2023, $514 a person, $1,810 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2024, $550 a person, $1,889 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2025, $599 a person, $1,952 at PPP, inflation 8.1%$0$1.0K$2.0KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $324 a person, $1,416 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2007, $420 a person, $1,493 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2008, $513 a person, $1,577 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2009, $446 a person, $1,480 at PPP, inflation 9%2010, $450 a person, $1,464 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2011, $506 a person, $1,475 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2012, $494 a person, $1,464 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2013, $515 a person, $1,473 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2014, $506 a person, $1,499 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2015, $445 a person, $1,497 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2016, $454 a person, $1,562 at PPP, inflation 6%2017, $492 a person, $1,547 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2018, $500 a person, $1,547 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2019, $500 a person, $1,612 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2020, $451 a person, $1,490 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2021, $483 a person, $1,577 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2022, $504 a person, $1,716 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2023, $514 a person, $1,810 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2024, $550 a person, $1,889 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2025, $599 a person, $1,952 at PPP, inflation 8.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
63.8years, at birthVery low
#176 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
33WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
10.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
34 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
457EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet34 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A vibrant aerial view of Antananarivo, Madagascar showcasing diverse architecture and bustling streets.
How it changed

Madagascar's Human Development Index

0.487Low human development

183rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 45th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #181Afghanistan0.496
  2. #182Mozambique0.493
  3. #183Madagascar0.487
  4. #184Yemen0.470
  5. #185Sierra Leone0.467
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1999

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.436 in 1999 to 0.487 in 2023.

0.400.480.550.48719992000201020231999: 0.4362000: 0.4432001: 0.4512002: 0.4482003: 0.4582004: 0.4652005: 0.4702006: 0.4742007: 0.4822008: 0.4902009: 0.4932010: 0.4932011: 0.4942012: 0.4962013: 0.4972014: 0.5002015: 0.5012016: 0.5012017: 0.5052018: 0.5012019: 0.4952020: 0.4832021: 0.4812022: 0.4832023: 0.4870.400.480.5519992000201020231999: 0.4362000: 0.4432001: 0.4512002: 0.4482003: 0.4582004: 0.4652005: 0.4702006: 0.4742007: 0.4822008: 0.4902009: 0.4932010: 0.4932011: 0.4942012: 0.4962013: 0.4972014: 0.5002015: 0.5012016: 0.5012017: 0.5052018: 0.5012019: 0.4952020: 0.4832021: 0.4812022: 0.4832023: 0.487

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 25 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
63.8 years2024at birthUp 3.2 years from 60.7 years in 2005
Internet users
19%2024of people onlineUp 18 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
33%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 6 points from 27% in 2006
Births per woman
3.912024births per womanDown 1.29 from 5.20 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
83%2022of energy usedDown 1 point from 84% in 2004
Access to electricity
43%2024of people with electricityUp 27 points from 16% in 2005
Infant mortality
432024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 11 from 54 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
21%2023of land under forestDown 1 point from 22% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Island biodiversity like nowhere else, with 90% endemic species and an extremely low GDP. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Madagascar

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and one of the most ecologically unique places on earth, where over 90 percent of its wildlife exists nowhere else, from lemurs and chameleons to baobab forests and extraordinary orchids. The Malagasy culture blends African, Asian, and Arab roots into something with its own distinct character, centred on the concept of fady, a system of ancestral customs that shapes everyday life. Those driven by wildlife and natural curiosity will find it one of the world's truly irreplaceable destinations.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAntananarivo
  • LanguagesFrench, Malagasy
  • CurrencyMalagasy ariary (MGA)
  • Area581,800 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Madagascar's Human Development Index?

Madagascar's Human Development Index is 0.487 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #183 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Madagascar safe?

Madagascar scores 1.85 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #58 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Madagascar?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Madagascar at 22.5 (New York = 100); that is #6 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Madagascar?

Life expectancy at birth in Madagascar is 63.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #176 of 195 countries.