Total population (thousands) in Madagascar
Madagascar: Total population (thousands) was 32,352 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
32,352 thousands
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
49th
of 233 countries
All-time high
32,352 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
6,576 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Madagascar, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Madagascar is 32,352 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Madagascar peaked at 32,352 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6,576 thousands, in 1970.
That places Madagascar 49th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6,576 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 6,768 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 6,970 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 7,179 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 7,397 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 7,623 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 7,856 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 8,098 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 8,347 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 8,605 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 8,870 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 9,142 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 9,416 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 9,699 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 9,987 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 10,282 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 10,584 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 10,889 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 11,205 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 11,534 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 11,876 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 12,235 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 12,608 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 12,994 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 13,401 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 13,827 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 14,276 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 14,746 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 15,236 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 15,743 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 16,258 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 16,775 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 17,291 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 17,809 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 18,335 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 18,878 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 19,441 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 20,020 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 20,617 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 21,231 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 21,864 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 22,503 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 23,142 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 23,783 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 24,435 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 25,094 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 25,760 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 26,440 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 27,137 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 27,853 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 28,586 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 29,321 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 30,061 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 30,814 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 31,578 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 32,352 thousands | +2.4% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 32,352 thousands is above the median for low income countries, which is 23,812 thousands, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 32,352 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7,542 thousands | 6,576 thousands | 8,605 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 10,161 thousands | 8,870 thousands | 11,534 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,694 thousands | 11,876 thousands | 15,743 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,666 thousands | 16,258 thousands | 21,231 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 24,801 thousands | 21,864 thousands | 27,853 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,452 thousands | 28,586 thousands | 32,352 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Madagascar?
- Total population in Madagascar was 32,352 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 32,352 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,576 thousands in 1970.
- How does Madagascar rank for total population?
- Madagascar ranks 49th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Madagascar data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release