Share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar
Madagascar: Share of population living in rural areas was 57.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar is 57.1%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar peaked at 87.2% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 57.1%, in 2020.
That places Madagascar 23rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 87.2% | — |
| 1955 | 86.0% | -1.3% |
| 1960 | 84.7% | -1.5% |
| 1965 | 83.3% | -1.7% |
| 1970 | 81.6% | -2.0% |
| 1975 | 79.7% | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 77.7% | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 75.7% | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 73.4% | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 71.1% | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 68.8% | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 66.6% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 64.0% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 60.5% | -5.4% |
| 2020 | 57.1% | -5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 86.6% | 86.0% | 87.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 84.0% | 83.3% | 84.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 80.7% | 79.7% | 81.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 76.7% | 75.7% | 77.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 72.3% | 71.1% | 73.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 67.7% | 66.6% | 68.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 62.2% | 60.5% | 64.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 57.1% | 57.1% | 57.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More population data for Madagascar
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.445 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.153 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.445 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.463 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2896 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.4% (2100)
- Population density 146.69 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.06 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.4% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 3.9 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Madagascar was 57.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 87.2% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.1% in 2020.
- How does Madagascar rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Madagascar ranks 23rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Madagascar data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.