Population density in Madagascar
Madagascar: Population density was 53.62 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
53.62 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
149th
of 215 countries
All-time high
53.62 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
9.02 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Madagascar, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population density in Madagascar is 53.62 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Madagascar peaked at 53.62 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 9.02 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
That places Madagascar 149th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 9.02 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 9.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 9.5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 9.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 10.01 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 10.27 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 10.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 10.84 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 11.15 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 11.47 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 11.81 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 12.16 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 12.53 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 12.91 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 13.31 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 13.72 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 14.14 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 14.57 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 15.02 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 15.49 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 15.96 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 16.44 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 16.93 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 17.43 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 17.94 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 18.46 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 19 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 19.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 20.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 20.73 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 21.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 22.01 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 22.69 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 23.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 24.16 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 24.95 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 25.78 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 26.64 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 27.51 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 28.4 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 29.29 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 30.18 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 31.08 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 32 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 32.95 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 33.93 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 34.94 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 35.98 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 37.05 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 38.15 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 39.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 40.33 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 41.44 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 42.57 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 43.7 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 44.86 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 46.04 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 47.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 48.5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 49.77 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 51.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 52.32 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 53.62 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.04 people per sq. km of land area | 9.02 people per sq. km of land area | 11.15 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 13.17 people per sq. km of land area | 11.47 people per sq. km of land area | 15.02 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.73 people per sq. km of land area | 15.49 people per sq. km of land area | 20.13 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.92 people per sq. km of land area | 20.73 people per sq. km of land area | 27.51 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.58 people per sq. km of land area | 28.4 people per sq. km of land area | 37.05 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.21 people per sq. km of land area | 38.15 people per sq. km of land area | 48.5 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.68 people per sq. km of land area | 49.77 people per sq. km of land area | 53.62 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
- 146 Liberia 57.03 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 147 Nicaragua 56.7 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 148 Iran 55.85 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 150 South Africa 52.11 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 151 Fiji 50.58 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 152 Djibouti 49.74 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Madagascar
- Population in the largest city 39.3% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 12.39 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 4.23 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1292 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 6.66 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 4.23 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 2.63 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Madagascar?
- Population density in Madagascar was 53.62 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 53.62 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.02 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Madagascar rank for population density?
- Madagascar ranks 149th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density 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 FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.