Population in Madagascar
Madagascar: Population was 31.20 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in Madagascar, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Madagascar recorded 31.20 million people for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Madagascar peaked at 31.20 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.96 million people, in 1950.
That places Madagascar 49th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.45 million people | 3.96 million people | 4.98 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.77 million people | 5.11 million people | 6.48 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.66 million people | 6.67 million people | 8.74 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.31 million people | 9.01 million people | 11.71 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.91 million people | 12.06 million people | 16.00 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.95 million people | 16.52 million people | 21.55 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.14 million people | 22.18 million people | 28.22 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.07 million people | 28.95 million people | 31.20 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
- 46 Ghana 33.79 million people compare
- 47 Mozambique 33.64 million people compare
- 48 Saudi Arabia 33.26 million people compare
- 50 Cote d'Ivoire 31.17 million people compare
- 51 Nepal 29.69 million people compare
- 52 Cameroon 28.37 million people compare
More population data for Madagascar
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.06 million people (2100)
- Population density 146.69 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.91 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 83 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.91 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.91 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.5% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 3.97 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Madagascar?
- Population in Madagascar was 31.20 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 31.20 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.96 million people in 1950.
- How does Madagascar rank for population?
- Madagascar ranks 49th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Madagascar data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.