Moving to Madagascar from Timor-Leste

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Timor-Leste to Madagascar — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Timor-Leste 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Timor-Leste and Madagascar stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TL
12.0
MG
22.5

Timor-Leste 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

TL
$461
MG
$63
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

TL
7.7
MG
1.8

Timor-Leste 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

TL
61.0
MG
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TL
0.5t
MG
0.1t

Madagascar performs significantly better than Timor-Leste 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

TL
0.0
MG
0.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TL
28.3%
MG
11.3%

Madagascar generally does better on infrastructure, though Timor-Leste leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TL
1.5%
MG
3.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TL
$4,600
MG
$1,700

Timor-Leste performs better than Madagascar across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TL
69.9 yrs
MG
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TL
33.7
MG
39.0

Timor-Leste generally does better on family life, though Madagascar leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Timor-Leste 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.

Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting Madagascar

Visa on Arrival
Timor-Leste passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Madagascar.
Madagascar passport

Madagascar passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa on Arrival
Madagascar passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Timor-Leste.

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?

With 0.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Madagascar can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Timor-Leste and Madagascar.

Is Madagascar safe for expats?

Timor-Leste performs better than Madagascar across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Madagascar compared to Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste 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 7.7 in Timor-Leste. Madagascar scores 35 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Timor-Leste: 52).

What language do they speak in Madagascar?

The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. In Timor-Leste, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetum.

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At a Glance

TL MG
Population 1,445,006 28,172,462
Currency United States Dollar ($) Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Languages Portuguese, Tetum French, Malagasy
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +670 +261
Time zones 1 1