If you lived in Madagascar instead of Djibouti, you would:

Health

be 61.3% less likely to be obese

In Djibouti, 11.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Madagascar, that number is 4.5% of people as of 2024.

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be 23.5% less likely to die by suicide

Djibouti has a suicide rate of 8.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Madagascar, it is 6.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 2.4 years less

In Djibouti, the average life expectancy is 66 years (64 years for men, 69 years for women) as of 2024. In Madagascar, that number is 64 years (62 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 59.5% less spent on your healthcare

Djibouti spends $155 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Madagascar spends $63 as of 2023.

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have 18.5% fewer doctors per person

Djibouti has 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Madagascar has 1.7 as of 2022.

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have 20.5% less access to essential health services

Djibouti scores 44 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Madagascar scores 35 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 88.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Djibouti, 26.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Madagascar, that number is 3.0% as of 2025.

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make 84.7% less money

Djibouti has a GDP per capita of $3,906 as of 2025, while in Madagascar, the GDP per capita is $599 as of 2025.

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Life

have 51.5% more children

In Djibouti, there are approximately 20.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Madagascar, there are 31.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 2.7 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Djibouti, approximately 162.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Madagascar, 445.0 women do as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 39.6% less likely to have access to electricity

In Djibouti, approximately 65% of people have electricity access (75% in urban areas, and 37% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Madagascar, that number is 39% of people on average (76% in urban areas, and 15% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 71.4% less likely to have internet access

In Djibouti, approximately 65.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Madagascar, about 18.7% do as of 2024.

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be 30.5% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Djibouti, approximately 80% of people have access to drinking water (84% in urban areas, and 62% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Madagascar, that number is 55% of people on average (78% in urban areas, and 39% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 50.4% more on healthcare

Djibouti spends 2.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Madagascar, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 15.4 times more coastline

Djibouti has a total of 314 km of coastline. In Madagascar, that number is 4,828 km.

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Infrastructure

find 91.8% less home broadband

Djibouti has 1.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Madagascar has 0.1 as of 2023.

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live with 77.9% more strain on fresh water

Djibouti withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Madagascar withdraws 11% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 80.5% less CO2

Djibouti emits 0.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Madagascar emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), World Health Organization (2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Madagascar: At a glance

Madagascar is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 581,540 sq km. Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA handing 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. Following a lengthy mediation process led by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA defeated RAVALOMANANA's favored candidate Jean-Louis ROBINSON in a presidential runoff and was inaugurated in January 2014. Most international observers, while noting some irregularities, declared polls to be a credible reflection of the Malagasy public's will.
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