Moving to Madagascar from Canada

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Canada to Madagascar — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Canada to Madagascar. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Canada to Madagascar.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CA
4.7
MG
22.5

Canada performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CA
$7,646
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CA
25.0
MG
1.8

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada 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

CA
8.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CA
14.0t
MG
0.1t

Canada 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

CA
42.6
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CA
3.7%
MG
11.3%

Canada 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

CA
5.4%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$55,800
MG
$1,700

Canada 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

CA
83.8 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CA
4.4
MG
39.0

Canada performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ottawa Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Ottawa Antananarivo
Jan 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada 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.

Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting Canada

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Madagascar has 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Madagascar safe for expats?

Canada performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Canada?

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 25.0 in Canada. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).

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

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.

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At a Glance

CA MG
Population 38,232,593 28,172,462
Currency Canadian Dollar (CA$) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages English, French French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +261
Time zones 6 1
Emergency number 911