Moving to Madagascar from Australia

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Australia to Madagascar? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Australia to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 67°F in Canberra, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Madagascar compared to Australia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AU
4.5
MG
22.5

Australia performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

AU
$7,691
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

AU
39.8
MG
1.8

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AU
10.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AU
14.1t
MG
0.1t

Australia generally does better on environment, though Madagascar leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AU
35.1
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AU
4.6%
MG
11.3%

Australia performs better than Madagascar across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AU
3.7%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AU
$59,500
MG
$1,700

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Madagascar leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AU
83.1 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AU
3.0
MG
39.0

Australia performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: Australian Taxation Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Antananarivo Rain: 47.2 in/yr (1198 mm)
76° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Canberra Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Canberra Antananarivo
Jan 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and Madagascar. To live, work, or study long-term in Madagascar, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Madagascar's immigration authority.

Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Australia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Madagascar.
Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Australia

Visa Required
Madagascar passport holders need a visa to enter Australia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Madagascar?

Connectivity is usually fine (Madagascar: 0.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Madagascar offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Madagascar safe for expats?

Australia performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Australia?

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 39.8 in Australia. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Australia: 87).

What's the weather like in Madagascar compared to Australia?

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 67°F in Canberra. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Canberra gets 24.8 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Australia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

AU MG
Population 26,141,369 28,172,462
Currency Australian Dollar (A$) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages English French, Malagasy
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +61 +261
Time zones 8 1
Emergency number 000