Madagascar Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Antananarivo

Population

31,345,040 (2025 est.)

Area

587,041 sq km

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

🧭 Background

Madagascar was one of the last major habitable landmasses on earth to be settled by humans. While there is some evidence of human presence on the island in the millennia B.C., large-scale settlement began between A.D. 350 and 550 with settlers from present-day Indonesia. The island attracted Arab and Persian traders as early as the 7th century, and migrants from Africa arrived around A.D. 1000. Madagascar was a pirate stronghold during the late 17th and early 18th centuries and served as a slave trading center into the 19th century. From the 16th to the late 19th century, a native Merina Kingdom dominated much of Madagascar. The French conquered the island in 1896 and made it a colony; independence was regained in 1960. Free presidential and National Assembly elections were held in 1992-93, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing half the country to secede. In 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. He won a second term in 2006 but, following protests in 2009, handed over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. After a lengthy mediation process, Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA won in a runoff and was inaugurated in 2014. In 2019, RAJOELINA was declared the winner against RAVALOMANANA. In 2023, RAJOELINA won another term in an election that most of the opposition boycotted, including RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA and RAVALOMANANA, who claimed it was rigged in favor of RAJOELINA. International observers, however, saw no evidence of systemic fraud, leading the international community to accept the election results.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

587,041 sq km

Area — land

581,540 sq km

Area — water

5,501 sq km

Area - comparative

Almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

4,828 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath

Climate

Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain

Narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation — highest point

Maromokotro 2,876 m

Elevation — lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

615 m

Natural resources

Graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use — agricultural land

70.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

17.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

12.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

10,860 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

Most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

Periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history

Geography - note

World's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar’s close proximity to the African continent, ocean currents isolate the island, resulting in high rates of endemic plant and animal species; approximately 90% of the flora and fauna on the island are found nowhere else

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

31,345,040 (2025 est.)

Population — male

15,647,362

Population — female

15,697,678

Nationality — noun

Malagasy (singular and plural)

Nationality — adjective

Malagasy

Ethnic groups

Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Languages

Malagasy (official) 99.9%, French (official) 23.6%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)

Religions

Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

37% (male 5,507,847/female 5,400,551)

Age structure — 15-64 years

59.1% (male 8,720,012/female 8,673,880)

Age structure — 65 years and over

3.9% (2024 est.) (male 532,642/female 617,782)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

73.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

66.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

6.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

15.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

20.5 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

21.1 years

Median age — female

21.5 years

Population growth rate

2.15% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

27.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization — urban population

40.6% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.86 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.5 years (2021 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

445 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

40.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

34 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

68.8 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

67.3 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

70.3 years

Total fertility rate

3.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.71 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.5% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 53.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 25.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 36.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 46.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 74.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 63.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

24.1% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

40.2% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

8.2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

22.6% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62.3% (2021 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

12.7% (2021)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

38.8% (2021)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

11.2% (2021)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

18% national budget (2019 est.)

Literacy — total population

74.7% (2021 est.)

Literacy — male

77.9% (2021 est.)

Literacy — female

71.8% (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

9 years (2019 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

9 years (2019 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

9 years (2019 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Land use — agricultural land

70.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

17.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

12.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

40.6% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

1.057 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

16.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

3.769 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

9.2% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

395 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

161.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

337 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Madagascar

Country name — conventional short form

Madagascar

Country name — local long form

République de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara

Country name — local short form

Madagascar/Madagasikara

Country name — former

Malagasy Republic

Country name — etymology

A variant of the name was first used by 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO when he confused the island with the Somali port of Mogadishu; the transliteration was later adopted as the official name

Government type

Semi-presidential republic

Capital — name

Antananarivo

Capital — geographic coordinates

18 55 S, 47 31 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

The name means "City of the Thousand," from the Malagasy an- (a prefix denoting a place name), tanana (town), and arivo (thousand); in the 17th century, King ADRIANJAKA named the original fortress after the 1,000 soldiers stationed there

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Legal system

Civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation

Constitution — history

Previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar’s collectivities, cannot be amended

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

The father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

Unknown

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president

Executive branch — most recent election date

16 November 2023

Executive branch — election results

2023: Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

November 2028

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

163 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Mixed system

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

12/11/2020

Legislative branch - lower chamber — parties elected and seats per party

Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR) (84); Firaisankina (22); Independents (50); Other (7)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

14.1%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

May 2029

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate (Antenimierandoholona)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

5/29/2024

Legislative branch - upper chamber — parties elected and seats per party

IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

11.1%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

31 December 2026

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 11 members; addresses cases brought against the president of Madagascar and senior officials for high treason, grave violations of the Constitution, or breach of duties incompatible with the exercise of the presidential mandate)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 7-year terms; High Court of Justice members include: first president of the Supreme Court; 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation; 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal; 2 deputies from the National Assembly; 2 senators from the Senate; 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court

Political parties

Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 265-5525

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 265-3034

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[261] 33-44-320-00

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[261] 33-44-320-35

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

AntanACS@state.gov https://mg.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Flag

Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a vertical white band on the left side meaning: red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity

National symbol(s)

Traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu

National color(s)

Red, green, white

National anthem(s) — title

"Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (O Our Beloved Fatherland)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1959

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests (n)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Low-income East African island economy; natural resource rich; extreme poverty; return of political stability has helped growth; sharp tax revenue drop due to COVID-19; leading vanilla producer; environmentally fragile

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$52.968 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$50.833 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$48.782 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.421 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

9.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

5.8% (2021 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

22.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

22.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

46.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

69.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

15.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

22.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

23.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-31.3% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023)

Industries

Meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (2024 est.)

Labor force

16.519 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3.1% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

3.2% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

5.4% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

5.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

5.4% (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$2.066 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$2.876 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$829.376 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$721.953 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2020

-$623.653 million (2020 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$4.689 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$3.362 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2020

$2.589 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 16%, France 15%, Japan 8%, China 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Garments, nickel, vanilla, cloves, gold (2023)

Imports — Imports 2022

$6.041 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$4.769 billion (2021 est.)

Imports — Imports 2020

$3.718 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

China 19%, Oman 13%, France 10%, India 8%, South Africa 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, rice, fabric, cotton fabric, wheat (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$2.785 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$2.632 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.16 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$3.548 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

4,525.425 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

4,429.579 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

4,096.116 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

3,829.978 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

3,787.754 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

36.1% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

71.6%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

10.9%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

759,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

139 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

150 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

3,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

23.5 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

76 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

State-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach; privately owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns; state-run radio dominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo (2019)

Internet country code

.mg

Internet users — percent of population

20% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

34,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5R

Airports

93 (2025)

Railways — total

836 km (2018)

Railways — narrow gauge

836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

29 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11

Ports — total ports

13 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

2

Ports — very small

11

Ports — ports with oil terminals

5

Ports — key ports

Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Madagascar Armed Forces (aka Armed forces of the Republic of Madagascar); Malagasy Army, Naval Forces (or National Navy), Air Force; Malagasy National Gendarmerie (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 13,000 Armed Forces; estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand armaments originating from countries such as France, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, the UAE, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation 18 months; conscription available in times of national emergency or war (2025)

Military - note

The military’s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar’s maritime domain, particularly against piracy, drug trafficking, and smuggling; it also assists the Gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, largely in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling, and criminal groups; the military has a history of influence in domestic politics and seized control of the government in October 2025; security relationships have included France, India, and Russia; Madagascar's small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2025)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

1,256 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

9,868 (2024 est.)