Moving to Madagascar from New Zealand

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from New Zealand to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 66°F in Auckland, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Madagascar.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
MG
22.5

New Zealand 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

NZ
$5,576
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
36.1
MG
1.7

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand 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

NZ
12.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
MG
0.1t

New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Madagascar leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NZ
38.0
MG
0.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
MG
11.3%

New Zealand performs better than Madagascar across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NZ
5.1%
MG
3.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$49,591
MG
$599

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NZ
82.0 yrs
MG
63.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
4.0
MG
43.0

New Zealand performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016), General Direction of Taxes (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Madagascar vs New Zealand

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Auckland Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
66° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Auckland Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Auckland Antananarivo
Jan 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Can you move from New Zealand to Madagascar?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Madagascar passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.

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?

New Zealand performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to New Zealand?

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 36.1 in New Zealand. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

What's the weather like in Madagascar compared to New Zealand?

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 66°F in Auckland. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Auckland gets 43.3 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

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At a Glance

NZ MG
Population 5,324,700 32,740,678
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language French, Malagasy
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +261
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111 —