Moving to Madagascar from Sri Lanka
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sri Lanka to Madagascar? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sri Lanka 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 87°F in Colombo, making it significantly cooler.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Madagascar compared to Sri Lanka.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Sri Lanka performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Madagascar leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sri Lanka generally does better on environment, though Madagascar leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Sri Lanka generally does better on infrastructure, though Madagascar leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Sri Lanka generally does better on employment & economy, though Madagascar leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Sri Lanka generally does better on family life, though Madagascar leads in education spending.
Data: Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Colombo | Antananarivo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 79°/63°F (26°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) | 75°/57°F (24°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Colombo | Antananarivo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) | 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.3°C) |
| Feb | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) | 79°/63°F (26.3°/17.4°C) |
| Mar | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) | 79°/63°F (26.2°/17.0°C) |
| Apr | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) | 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.8°C) |
| May | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) | 75°/57°F (23.7°/13.8°C) |
| Jun | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) | 71°/53°F (21.4°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) |
| Aug | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) | 71°/52°F (21.4°/10.9°C) |
| Sep | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) | 75°/54°F (23.7°/12.1°C) |
| Oct | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) | 78°/57°F (25.7°/14.1°C) |
| Nov | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) |
| Dec | 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) | 80°/62°F (26.8°/16.9°C) |
Data:
National Meteorological Centre,
Direction Générale de la Météorologie
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sri Lanka 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.
Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Madagascar
Visa on Arrival
Madagascar passport holder visiting Sri Lanka
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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?
Sri Lanka performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka 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 11.9 in Sri Lanka. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sri Lanka: 67).
What's the weather like in Madagascar compared to Sri Lanka?
The average high temperature in Antananarivo is 76°F, compared to 87°F in Colombo. Antananarivo receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Colombo gets 99.4 in.
What language do they speak in Madagascar?
The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.
