Moving to Madagascar from France

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from France to Madagascar. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 60°F in Paris, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Madagascar

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
9,922 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in France 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 France 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

FR
4.7
MG
22.5

France 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

FR
$6,868
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
MG
1.8

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
MG
0.1t

France 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

FR
49.4
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
MG
11.3%

France 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

FR
7.3%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
MG
$1,700

France 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

FR
82.6 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
MG
39.0

France performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Paris Antananarivo
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting France

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

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 France and Madagascar.

Is Madagascar safe for expats?

France performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to France?

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 33.4 in France. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

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

Share this

At a Glance

FR MG
Population 68,305,148 28,172,462
Currency Euro (€) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages French French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +261
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112