Population in largest city in Madagascar
Madagascar: Population in largest city was 4.23 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.23 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
47th
of 153 countries
All-time high
4.23 million
in 2025
All-time low
252,097
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Madagascar, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Madagascar recorded 4.23 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 61.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Madagascar peaked at 4.23 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 252,097, in 1960.
That places Madagascar 47th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, 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 in largest city in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 252,097 | — |
| 1961 | 260,657 | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 269,521 | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 278,685 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 288,175 | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 297,960 | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 308,408 | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 321,149 | +4.1% |
| 1968 | 334,435 | +4.1% |
| 1969 | 348,232 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 362,619 | +4.1% |
| 1971 | 377,600 | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 395,320 | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 413,819 | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 433,211 | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 453,637 | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 476,519 | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 500,489 | +5.0% |
| 1978 | 525,699 | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 552,179 | +5.0% |
| 1980 | 580,033 | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 609,209 | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 639,896 | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 672,128 | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 706,033 | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 741,546 | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 778,899 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 818,134 | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 859,403 | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 902,631 | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 948,098 | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 995,856 | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 1.05 million | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 1.10 million | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 1.13 million | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 1.17 million | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 1.21 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.24 million | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 1.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 1.32 million | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 1.36 million | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 1.40 million | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 1.44 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 1.48 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 1.52 million | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 1.56 million | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.64 million | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 1.73 million | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 1.82 million | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.92 million | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 2.02 million | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 2.13 million | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 2.24 million | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 2.36 million | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 2.49 million | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 2.62 million | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 2.76 million | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 2.90 million | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 3.06 million | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 3.21 million | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 3.37 million | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 3.53 million | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 3.70 million | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 3.87 million | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 4.05 million | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 4.23 million | +4.5% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 4.23 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.98 million, 2.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 4.23 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 1.9× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 295,932 | 252,097 | 348,232 | 10 |
| 1970s | 449,109 | 362,619 | 552,179 | 10 |
| 1980s | 730,791 | 580,033 | 902,631 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.14 million | 948,098 | 1.32 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.59 million | 1.36 million | 1.92 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.58 million | 2.02 million | 3.21 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.79 million | 3.37 million | 4.23 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More urban development data for Madagascar
- Population in the largest city 39.3% (2025)
- Population density 53.62 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 12.39 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- 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 4.23 million (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)
- 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 current US$ (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Madagascar?
- Population in largest city in Madagascar was 4.23 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 4.23 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 252,097 in 1960.
- How does Madagascar rank for population in largest city?
- Madagascar ranks 47th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Madagascar data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.