Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar
Madagascar: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 10.77 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
10.77 million people
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
62nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.77 million people
in 2025
All-time low
308,969 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Madagascar recorded 10.77 million people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 45.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar peaked at 10.77 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 308,969 people, in 1950.
Madagascar ranks 62nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 308,969 people | — |
| 1951 | 328,740 people | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 349,425 people | +6.3% |
| 1953 | 371,097 people | +6.2% |
| 1954 | 393,786 people | +6.1% |
| 1955 | 417,516 people | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 442,364 people | +6.0% |
| 1957 | 468,402 people | +5.9% |
| 1958 | 495,674 people | +5.8% |
| 1959 | 524,223 people | +5.8% |
| 1960 | 554,048 people | +5.7% |
| 1961 | 585,126 people | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 617,449 people | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 651,063 people | +5.4% |
| 1964 | 686,066 people | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 722,604 people | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 761,239 people | +5.3% |
| 1967 | 801,613 people | +5.3% |
| 1968 | 843,898 people | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 889,512 people | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 940,085 people | +5.7% |
| 1971 | 998,482 people | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 1.06 million people | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 1.14 million people | +6.6% |
| 1974 | 1.21 million people | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 1.28 million people | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 1.35 million people | +5.6% |
| 1977 | 1.42 million people | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 1.50 million people | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 1.58 million people | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 1.66 million people | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 1.75 million people | +5.1% |
| 1982 | 1.84 million people | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 1.93 million people | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 2.02 million people | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 2.11 million people | +4.7% |
| 1986 | 2.21 million people | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 2.31 million people | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 2.42 million people | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 2.53 million people | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 2.64 million people | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 2.76 million people | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 2.88 million people | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 3.02 million people | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 3.15 million people | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 3.30 million people | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 3.45 million people | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 3.61 million people | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 3.78 million people | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 3.95 million people | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 4.13 million people | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 4.31 million people | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 4.49 million people | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 4.68 million people | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 4.87 million people | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 5.07 million people | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 5.28 million people | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 5.49 million people | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 5.72 million people | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 5.95 million people | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 6.18 million people | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 6.42 million people | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 6.66 million people | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 6.91 million people | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 7.16 million people | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 7.42 million people | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 7.68 million people | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 7.95 million people | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 8.23 million people | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 8.55 million people | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 8.89 million people | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 9.24 million people | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 9.60 million people | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 9.98 million people | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 10.37 million people | +3.9% |
| 2025 | 10.77 million people | +3.9% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 10.77 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 10.77 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 410,020 people | 308,969 people | 524,223 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 711,262 people | 554,048 people | 889,512 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.25 million people | 940,085 people | 1.58 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.08 million people | 1.66 million people | 2.53 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.26 million people | 2.64 million people | 3.95 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.00 million people | 4.13 million people | 5.95 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.32 million people | 6.18 million people | 8.55 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.81 million people | 8.89 million people | 10.77 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More population data for Madagascar
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.463 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.445 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2896 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.671 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Madagascar was 10.77 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 10.77 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 308,969 people in 1950.
- How does Madagascar rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Madagascar ranks 62nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.