Moving to Japan from Madagascar

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Madagascar to Japan, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
130 ↑ 103% vs 2022

people moved from Madagascar to Japan · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Japan?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Madagascar and Japan 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
JP
2.7

Japan performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MG
$63
JP
$5,365
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

MG
1.8
JP
26.1

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan 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
JP
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MG
0.1t
JP
7.8t

Madagascar generally does better on environment, though Japan 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
JP
37.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MG
11.3%
JP
36.0%

Japan 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

MG
3.1%
JP
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MG
$1,700
JP
$46,300

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Madagascar leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MG
68.2 yrs
JP
84.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MG
39.0
JP
1.9

Japan 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

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Antananarivo Tokyo
Jan–Mar 79°/63°F (26°/17°C) 53°/37°F (12°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) 73°/58°F (23°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 63°/49°F (17°/9°C)
View all months
Month Antananarivo Tokyo
Jan 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C)
Feb 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C) 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C)
Mar 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C) 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C)
Apr 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C) 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C)
May 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C) 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C)
Jun 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C)
Jul 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C)
Aug 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C) 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C)
Sep 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C) 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C)
Oct 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C)
Nov 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C)
Dec 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C) 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C)

Data: Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie, Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Japan

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

Japan passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Japan 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 Japan?

With 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan 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 Japan.

Is Japan safe for expats?

Japan performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Japan compared to Madagascar?

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 1.8 in Madagascar. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Madagascar: 35).

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

The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 76°F in Antananarivo. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Antananarivo gets 47.2 in.

What language do they speak in Japan?

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

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At a Glance

MG JP
Population 28,172,462 124,214,766
Currency Malagasy Ariary (MGA) Japanese Yen (¥)
Languages French, Malagasy Japanese
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +261 +81
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110