Moving to Iceland from Madagascar

moving to

What to Expect

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

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

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Living there in 2020
2

people born in Madagascar live in Iceland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Iceland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Madagascar and Iceland 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

MG
22.5
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

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

affects wait times and access to care

MG
1.8
IS
45.2

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland 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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MG
0.1t
IS
8.5t

Madagascar generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

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

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MG
11.3%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

MG
$1,700
IS
$66,500

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

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MG
39.0
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: General Direction of Taxes, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Madagascar and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.

Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Iceland

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

Iceland passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

With 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iceland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Madagascar and Iceland.

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Madagascar?

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

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

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

What language do they speak in Iceland?

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

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At a Glance

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