Moving to Madagascar from China

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from China to Madagascar — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from China to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 64°F in Beijing, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from China to Madagascar, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
2,193 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in China live in Madagascar · UN DESA

Who's moving to Madagascar?

Top countries of origin for Madagascar's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How China and Madagascar stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CN
17.4
MG
22.5

China 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

CN
$1,487
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CN
25.2
MG
1.8

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China 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

CN
64.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CN
9.3t
MG
0.1t

Madagascar performs significantly better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CN
41.4
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CN
41.5%
MG
11.3%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Madagascar leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CN
4.7%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CN
$22,100
MG
$1,700

China 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

CN
76.1 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CN
6.8
MG
39.0

China performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: State Administration of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Beijing Rain: 22.8 in/yr (578 mm)
64° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Beijing Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Beijing Antananarivo
Jan 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: China Meteorological Administration China Meteorological Administration, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between China 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.

China passport

China passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting China

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

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?

With 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Madagascar can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in China and Madagascar.

Is Madagascar safe for expats?

China performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to China?

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 25.2 in China. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).

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

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In China, the official language is Chinese.

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At a Glance

CN MG
Population 1,410,539,758 28,172,462
Currency Chinese Yuan (CN¥) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages Chinese French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +86 +261
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110