Moving to Madagascar from Iceland

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Iceland to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 45°F in Reykjavik, making it significantly warmer.

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

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IS
2.4
MG
22.5

Iceland 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

IS
$6,927
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IS
45.2
MG
1.8

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IS
8.5t
MG
0.1t

Iceland 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

IS
38.2
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IS
0.4%
MG
11.3%

Iceland 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

IS
3.6%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IS
$66,500
MG
$1,700

Madagascar generally does better on employment & economy, though Iceland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IS
83.6 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IS
1.6
MG
39.0

Iceland performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: Directorate of Internal Revenue, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Reykjavik Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 48°/38°F (9°/4°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 54°/45°F (12°/7°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Reykjavik Antananarivo
Jan 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iceland 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.

Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting Iceland

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

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?

Iceland performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Iceland?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 45.2 in Iceland. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iceland: 89).

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

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 45°F in Reykjavik. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Reykjavik gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

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

Share this

At a Glance

IS MG
Population 357,603 28,172,462
Currency Icelandic Króna (ISK) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages Icelandic French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +354 +261
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112