Moving to Madagascar from Latvia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Latvia to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 50°F in Riga, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Madagascar compared to Latvia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LV
9.8
MG
22.5

Latvia 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

LV
$3,034
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LV
33.8
MG
1.8

Latvia 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

LV
40.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LV
3.6t
MG
0.1t

Latvia 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

LV
26.4
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LV
1.1%
MG
11.3%

Latvia 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

LV
6.5%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LV
$37,800
MG
$1,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LV
75.9 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LV
4.8
MG
39.0

Latvia performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: State Revenue Service, Latvia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Riga Rain: 24.9 in/yr (633 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riga Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 60°/42°F (15°/6°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 67°/51°F (20°/11°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/31°F (5°/0°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Riga Antananarivo
Jan 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Latvia 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.

Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting Latvia

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

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?

Latvia performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Latvia?

Latvia 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 33.8 in Latvia. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Latvia: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 50°F in Riga. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Riga gets 24.9 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

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

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At a Glance

LV MG
Population 1,842,226 28,172,462
Currency Euro (€) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages Latvian French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +371 +261
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112