Moving to Madagascar from Saudi Arabia

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Saudi Arabia to Madagascar, and you’d need to navigate life in French and Malagasy. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Antananarivo averages 76°F vs 92°F in Riyadh, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Madagascar compared to Saudi Arabia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SA
18.5
MG
22.5

Saudi Arabia 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

SA
$3,475
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SA
30.8
MG
1.8

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia 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

SA
91.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SA
18.5t
MG
0.1t

Madagascar performs significantly better than Saudi Arabia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SA
37.0
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SA
974.2%
MG
11.3%

Saudi Arabia 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

SA
4.9%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SA
$49,600
MG
$1,700

Saudi Arabia 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

SA
76.7 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SA
12.3
MG
39.0

Saudi Arabia performs better than Madagascar across all family life metrics.

Data: Department of Zakat and Income Tax, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Riyadh Rain: 4.4 in/yr (111 mm)
92° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Riyadh Antananarivo
Jan–Mar 75°/50°F (24°/10°C) 79°/63°F (26°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 101°/72°F (38°/22°C) 75°/57°F (24°/14°C)
Jul–Sep 109°/77°F (43°/25°C) 72°/52°F (22°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/56°F (29°/13°C) 79°/60°F (26°/16°C)
View all months
Month Riyadh Antananarivo
Jan 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C)
Feb 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C) 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C)
Mar 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C) 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C)
Apr 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C)
May 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C) 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C)
Jun 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C) 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C)
Jul 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Aug 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C) 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C)
Sep 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C) 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C)
Oct 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C) 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C)
Nov 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C) 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C)
Dec 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C) 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C)

Data: National Center for Meteorology National Center for Meteorology, Direction Générale de la Météorologie Direction Générale de la Météorologie

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Saudi Arabia 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.

Saudi Arabia passport

Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Madagascar

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

Madagascar passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia

Visa Required
Madagascar passport holders need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia.

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?

Saudi Arabia performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Saudi Arabia?

Madagascar generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Madagascar, compared to 30.8 in Saudi Arabia. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saudi Arabia: 74).

What's the weather like in Madagascar compared to Saudi Arabia?

The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 92°F in Riyadh. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Riyadh gets 4.4 in.

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Saudi Arabia, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SA MG
Population 35,354,380 28,172,462
Currency Saudi Riyal (SAR) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages Arabic French, Malagasy
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +966 +261
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911