Moving to Madagascar from Panama

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Panama to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 93°F in Panama City, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Madagascar compared to Panama.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PA
7.3
MG
22.5

Panama 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

PA
$3,318
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PA
17.3
MG
1.8

Panama 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

PA
17.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
MG
0.1t

Panama 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

PA
15.5
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
MG
11.3%

Panama 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

PA
6.7%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$35,800
MG
$1,700

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PA
77.6 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
16.4
MG
39.0

Panama performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: General Directorate of Revenues, Panama, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Panama City Rain: 75.1 in/yr (1907 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Panama City Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Panama City Antananarivo
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama 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.

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Madagascar passport holders can enter Panama without a visa.

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?

Panama performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Panama?

Panama 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 17.3 in Panama. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

PA MG
Population 4,337,768 28,172,462
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages Spanish French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +507 +261
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911