Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar

Madagascar: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 32.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
32.9%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
32.9%
in 2025
All-time low
7.8%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025

Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar, 1950–2025

102030195019872025

Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of population living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar is 32.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.

The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 12.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar peaked at 32.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 1950.

Madagascar ranks 204th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 9.2% 7.8% 10.5% 10
1960s 12.3% 10.8% 13.7% 10
1970s 16.2% 14.1% 18.1% 10
1980s 20.1% 18.5% 21.6% 10
1990s 23.3% 21.9% 24.7% 10
2000s 26.3% 25.0% 27.6% 10
2010s 29.0% 27.9% 30.3% 10
2020s 31.8% 30.7% 32.9% 6

Countries ranked near Madagascar

  1. 201 Jersey 34.5% compare
  2. 202 Comoros 33.9% compare
  3. 203 Bangladesh 33.2% compare
  4. 205 Mali 32.2% compare
  5. 206 Kenya 32.2% compare
  6. 207 Uganda 31.9% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More population data for Madagascar

All data for Madagascar →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar?
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar was 32.9% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Madagascar?
The highest recorded value was 32.9% in 2025.
What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Madagascar?
The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 1950.
How does Madagascar rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
Madagascar ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Madagascar?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Madagascar data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in urban and rural areas
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
237 places, 18,012 data points, 1950–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.