Moving to Sri Lanka from Madagascar

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Madagascar to Sri Lanka, and you’d need to navigate life in Sinhala and Tamil. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Colombo averages 87°F vs 76°F in Antananarivo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Sri Lanka compared to Madagascar.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MG
22.5
LK
11.5

Sri Lanka 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
LK
$507
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MG
1.8
LK
11.9

Sri Lanka 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

MG
58.0
LK
37.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MG
0.1t
LK
1.1t

Madagascar generally does better on environment, though Sri Lanka 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
LK
10.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MG
11.3%
LK
90.8%

Sri Lanka 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%
LK
6.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MG
$1,700
LK
$13,000

Sri Lanka 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

MG
68.2 yrs
LK
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MG
39.0
LK
8.2

Sri Lanka generally does better on family life, though Madagascar leads in education spending.

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

Colombo Rain: 99.4 in/yr (2524 mm)
87° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Antananarivo Colombo
Jan–Mar 79°/63°F (26°/17°C) 88°/73°F (31°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) 88°/77°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) 86°/77°F (30°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Antananarivo Colombo
Jan 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C) 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C)
Feb 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C) 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C)
Mar 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C) 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C)
Apr 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C) 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C)
May 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C) 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C)
Jun 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C) 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C)
Jul 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C)
Aug 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C) 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C)
Sep 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C) 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C)
Oct 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C)
Nov 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Dec 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C) 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C)

Data: Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie, National Meteorological Centre National Meteorological Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Sri Lanka

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Madagascar passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka passport

Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka?

Connectivity is usually fine (Sri Lanka: 10.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sri Lanka offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Sri Lanka safe for expats?

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to Madagascar?

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sri Lanka, compared to 1.8 in Madagascar. Sri Lanka scores 67 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Madagascar: 35).

What's the weather like in Sri Lanka compared to Madagascar?

The average high temperature in Colombo is 87°F, compared to 76°F in Antananarivo. Colombo receives around 99.4 in of rainfall per year, while Antananarivo gets 47.2 in.

What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?

The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In Madagascar, the official languages are French and Malagasy.

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At a Glance

MG LK
Population 28,172,462 23,187,516
Currency Malagasy Ariary (MGA) Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Languages French, Malagasy Sinhala, Tamil
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +261 +94
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119