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Madagascar vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Madagascar has a population of 32M (ranked 49/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Madagascar's land area is 224,634 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 44th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Madagascar ranks 136/197 ($17.4B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Madagascar ranks 193/197 ($545), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Madagascar South Africa
Population
33750171
65683993
Population rank 49/197 24/197
GDP
$17.4B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 136/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$545
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 193/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,884
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$8.77B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
50.3%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$274.3
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 180/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,268
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 224,634 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
149.3 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.97
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
20 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
64.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Madagascar and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Madagascar and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Madagascar

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Madagascar South Africa
2024 $17,420,501,490 $401,144,998,374
2023 $15,869,945,478 $381,440,724,491
2022 $15,325,603,273 $407,596,043,068
2021 $14,354,731,964 $419,986,284,375
2020 $13,051,441,204 $337,974,655,408
2019 $14,104,664,679 $389,330,032,224
2018 $13,760,033,282 $405,260,723,893
2017 $13,176,313,594 $381,448,814,653
2016 $11,848,613,858 $323,585,509,674
2015 $11,323,020,701 $346,709,790,459
2014 $12,522,957,399 $381,198,869,776
2013 $12,423,555,455 $400,886,013,596
2012 $11,578,975,062 $434,400,545,086
2011 $11,551,819,618 $458,199,494,831
2010 $9,982,711,338 $417,363,822,802
2009 $9,616,879,409 $329,754,060,647
2008 $10,725,137,724 $316,131,258,616
2007 $8,524,620,890 $333,077,117,254
2006 $6,395,712,491 $303,858,675,364
2005 $5,859,269,753 $288,867,217,197
2004 $5,064,732,626 $255,806,908,595
2003 $6,372,498,890 $197,018,965,309
2002 $5,351,701,663 $129,087,556,612
2001 $5,438,332,602 $135,429,905,923
2000 $4,629,247,204 $151,752,757,215
1999 $4,277,903,780 $151,516,957,079
1998 $4,401,967,633 $152,982,984,557
1997 $4,262,965,420 $168,978,057,328
1996 $4,931,861,039 $163,234,925,381
1995 $3,838,100,904 $171,735,933,897
1994 $3,522,227,092 $153,512,712,382
1993 $4,063,298,919 $147,194,747,566
1992 $3,714,966,678 $146,956,150,987
1991 $3,254,713,056 $135,203,698,238
1990 $3,931,334,875 $126,048,140,142
1989 $3,175,638,333 $108,055,624,082
1988 $3,189,456,965 $103,976,831,871
1987 $3,212,900,556 $96,535,763,418
1986 $4,347,989,788 $73,354,771,399
1985 $3,802,557,895 $64,459,376,087
1984 $3,905,938,481 $84,870,163,366
1983 $4,686,457,031 $96,204,110,942
1982 $4,784,977,326 $85,904,057,409
1981 $4,759,333,998 $93,141,472,164
1980 $5,201,818,348 $89,411,864,402
1979 $3,463,565,854 $63,038,658,089
1978 $2,669,755,115 $51,607,412,902
1977 $2,358,930,406 $45,328,411,332
1976 $2,181,844,179 $41,150,460,288
1975 $2,283,049,215 $42,906,905,672
1974 $1,917,508,190 $41,389,186,095
1973 $1,653,062,335 $33,262,772,008
1972 $1,341,590,690 $24,515,919,217
1971 $1,199,507,631 $23,411,076,638
1970 $1,111,859,571 $21,218,391,513
1969 $1,056,391,056 $19,256,992,297
1968 $1,031,669,637 $17,124,793,150
1967 $956,436,932 $15,821,393,671
1966 $900,264,585 $14,211,394,315
1965 $833,563,473 $13,068,994,772
1964 $802,482,184 $11,955,995,218
1963 $759,345,864 $10,854,195,658
1962 $739,286,908 $9,813,996,074
1961 $699,161,945 $9,225,996,310
1960 $673,081,725 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

Madagascar and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Madagascar

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Madagascar South Africa
2024 $545 $6,267
2023 $509 $6,034
2022 $504 $6,534
2021 $483 $6,829
2020 $451 $5,581
2019 $500 $6,534
2018 $500 $6,914
2017 $492 $6,618
2016 $454 $5,651
2015 $445 $6,112
2014 $506 $6,857
2013 $515 $7,332
2012 $494 $8,077
2011 $506 $8,646
2010 $450 $7,973
2009 $446 $6,375
2008 $513 $6,185
2007 $420 $6,592
2006 $324 $6,077
2005 $306 $5,837
2004 $272.2 $5,221
2003 $353 $4,062
2002 $305 $2,688
2001 $319 $2,847
2000 $280.3 $3,218
1999 $267.4 $3,242
1998 $284.2 $3,310
1997 $284.4 $3,700
1996 $340 $3,618
1995 $273.1 $3,856
1994 $258.7 $3,489
1993 $308 $3,400
1992 $290.2 $3,462
1991 $262 $3,243
1990 $326 $3,093
1989 $271.3 $2,727
1988 $280.5 $2,702
1987 $290.8 $2,586
1986 $405 $2,027
1985 $364 $1,839
1984 $385 $2,504
1983 $476 $2,938
1982 $501 $2,717
1981 $513 $3,050
1980 $578 $3,029
1979 $396 $2,202
1978 $315 $1,852
1977 $286.9 $1,671
1976 $273.5 $1,559
1975 $295 $1,670
1974 $255.3 $1,656
1973 $226.8 $1,369
1972 $189.6 $1,038
1971 $174.6 $1,020
1970 $166.6 $952
1969 $162.9 $891
1968 $163.6 $817
1967 $155.9 $779
1966 $150.7 $722
1965 $143.2 $685
1964 $141.5 $646
1963 $137.4 $605
1962 $137.3 $563
1961 $133.3 $546
1960 $131.7 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

Madagascar vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Madagascar

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Madagascar South Africa
2026 64.3 66.7
2025 64 66.5
2024 63.8 66.3
2023 63.6 66.1
2022 63.1 65.5
2021 62.5 62
2020 62.7 65.2
2019 63.5 66.1
2018 63.5 65.7
2017 63.4 65.4
2016 63.4 64.7
2015 63.4 64.1
2014 63.3 63.2
2013 63.2 62.4
2012 63 61.7
2011 62.9 60.6
2010 62.6 58.9
2009 62.3 57.4
2008 62 56
2007 61.5 54.9
2006 61.1 54.2
2005 60.7 53.9
2004 60.2 54
2003 59.7 54.2
2002 59.2 55.6
2001 58.7 57.2
2000 58 58.4
1999 57.4 59.2
1998 56.8 59.9
1997 56.1 60.5
1996 55.5 61.1
1995 54.8 61.6
1994 54.2 62.1
1993 53.7 62.6
1992 52.9 62.8
1991 52.6 63
1990 52.1 62.9
1989 51.8 63
1988 51.4 62.9
1987 51.1 62.7
1986 50.7 62.4
1985 50.4 62.2
1984 50.2 61.8
1983 50.1 61.4
1982 50 60.9
1981 49.8 60.4
1980 50 60
1979 50.1 59.5
1978 50 59
1977 49.9 58.5
1976 49.8 58
1975 49.6 57.6
1974 49.3 57.1
1973 48.9 56.7
1972 48.5 56.4
1971 48.2 56
1970 47.9 55.7
1969 47.3 55.4
1968 46.9 55.2
1967 46.5 55
1966 46 54.7
1965 45.4 54.4
1964 45 54.2
1963 44.6 53.9
1962 44.2 53.6
1961 43.8 53.1
1960 43.3 52.6
1959 43 51.9
1958 42.5 51.1
1957 42.1 50.2
1956 41.7 49.2
1955 41.3 48.2
1954 40.9 47.1
1953 40.7 46.1
1952 40.3 45
1951 39.9 44.1
1950 39.7 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

Madagascar and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Madagascar

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Madagascar South Africa
2024 31,964,956 64,007,187
2023 31,195,932 63,212,384
2022 30,437,261 62,378,410
2021 29,691,083 61,502,603
2020 28,953,556 60,562,381
2019 28,219,554 59,587,885
2018 27,494,926 58,613,001
2017 26,788,375 57,635,162
2016 26,099,952 57,259,551
2015 25,426,702 56,723,537
2014 24,764,348 55,594,838
2013 24,109,290 54,678,791
2012 23,462,438 53,782,567
2011 22,822,300 52,995,205
2010 22,183,340 52,344,051
2009 21,547,280 51,728,516
2008 20,923,840 51,114,599
2007 20,318,583 50,528,584
2006 19,730,909 49,998,277
2005 19,159,707 49,490,033
2004 18,606,608 48,991,421
2003 18,071,854 48,500,348
2002 17,549,913 48,019,415
2001 17,032,939 47,566,800
2000 16,516,338 47,159,719
1999 16,000,506 46,730,335
1998 15,489,364 46,223,880
1997 14,990,814 45,666,838
1996 14,510,711 45,123,018
1995 14,051,275 44,541,554
1994 13,613,850 44,004,139
1993 13,197,345 43,297,156
1992 12,800,870 42,443,509
1991 12,421,412 41,687,898
1990 12,055,639 40,746,268
1989 11,704,998 39,628,575
1988 11,369,462 38,480,649
1987 11,047,291 37,326,190
1986 10,736,857 36,180,515
1985 10,433,142 35,042,093
1984 10,134,550 33,892,788
1983 9,843,044 32,739,304
1982 9,557,671 31,615,339
1981 9,279,011 30,541,044
1980 9,006,032 29,518,857
1979 8,737,581 28,634,162
1978 8,475,864 27,869,507
1977 8,222,240 27,118,952
1976 7,976,831 26,395,450
1975 7,739,336 25,690,940
1974 7,509,726 24,989,108
1973 7,288,048 24,294,263
1972 7,074,398 23,609,456
1971 6,868,868 22,942,143
1970 6,672,003 22,279,984
1969 6,484,716 21,614,676
1968 6,306,493 20,957,287
1967 6,136,486 20,314,066
1966 5,974,279 19,690,087
1965 5,819,116 19,089,380
1964 5,669,863 18,511,361
1963 5,525,185 17,954,564
1962 5,384,150 17,418,522
1961 5,246,158 16,908,035
1960 5,111,029 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Madagascar and South Africa

Fertility rate
Madagascar

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Madagascar South Africa
2023 3.97 2.22
2022 4.04 2.23
2021 4.1 2.25
2020 4.17 2.26
2019 4.22 2.26
2018 4.25 2.27
2017 4.26 2.28
2016 4.29 2.26
2015 4.34 2.36
2014 4.42 2.42
2013 4.53 2.43
2012 4.61 2.45
2011 4.74 2.44
2010 4.9 2.44
2009 5 2.5
2008 5.04 2.68
2007 5.08 2.55
2006 5.13 2.55
2005 5.2 2.51
2004 5.26 2.44
2003 5.33 2.36
2002 5.41 2.32
2001 5.53 2.37
2000 5.67 2.41
1999 5.84 2.56
1998 5.99 2.63
1997 6.02 2.73
1996 6.03 2.99
1995 6.04 3.17
1994 6.04 3.26
1993 6.06 3.37
1992 6.08 3.48
1991 6.12 3.62
1990 6.14 3.72
1989 6.15 3.98
1988 6.18 4.18
1987 6.24 4.35
1986 6.34 4.41
1985 6.46 4.5
1984 6.55 4.57
1983 6.63 4.63
1982 6.7 4.7
1981 6.77 4.71
1980 6.84 4.78
1979 6.87 4.82
1978 6.9 4.85
1977 6.93 4.94
1976 6.95 5.07
1975 6.97 5.19
1974 6.99 5.3
1973 7.01 5.41
1972 7.04 5.49
1971 7.07 5.57
1970 7.1 5.63
1969 7.12 5.72
1968 7.13 5.78
1967 7.14 5.85
1966 7.16 5.91
1965 7.17 5.89
1964 7.19 5.96
1963 7.21 6.01
1962 7.26 6.05
1961 7.3 6.08
1960 7.34 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

Madagascar and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Madagascar

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Madagascar South Africa
2024 20 29.5
2023 19.9 29.2
2022 19.7 28.9
2021 19.6 28.6
2020 19.4 28.3
2019 19.3 27.9
2018 19.1 27.5
2017 18.9 27
2016 18.7 26.7
2015 18.6 26.4
2014 18.4 26
2013 18.2 25.7
2012 18.1 25.3
2011 17.9 25
2010 17.8 24.6
2009 17.7 24.3
2008 17.6 24
2007 17.5 23.8
2006 17.4 23.5
2005 17.3 23.3
2004 17.3 23.1
2003 17.2 22.8
2002 17.2 22.4
2001 17.2 22.2
2000 17.2 21.9
1999 17.2 21.6
1998 17.2 21.4
1997 17.1 21.2
1996 17.1 21.2
1995 17.1 21.5
1994 17.1 22
1993 17 21.9
1992 17 21.5
1991 16.9 21.5
1990 16.9 21.3
1989 16.8 21.1
1988 16.7 20.9
1987 16.6 20.7
1986 16.6 20.5
1985 16.5 20.4
1984 16.5 20.2
1983 16.4 20
1982 16.4 19.8
1981 16.4 19.6
1980 16.4 19.4
1979 16.5 19.3
1978 16.5 19.2
1977 16.5 19.1
1976 16.6 19
1975 16.6 18.9
1974 16.6 18.9
1973 16.6 18.8
1972 16.6 18.8
1971 16.7 18.8
1970 16.7 18.8
1969 16.6 18.8
1968 16.7 18.8
1967 16.7 18.8
1966 16.7 18.8
1965 16.8 18.8
1964 16.8 18.9
1963 17 18.9
1962 17.2 18.9
1961 17.5 19
1960 17.9 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/madagascar/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Madagascar and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Madagascar South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$16.4B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.2%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.05%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.71%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
22,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-2.48%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.19%
2022
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
47.7%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
22.8%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
57
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
29.6%
2021
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2021
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.78B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$406M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
87,099
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
7.8%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
24.5%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Madagascar South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
309 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.56
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
4.68 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.15 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
83.1%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.8%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
13.7%
2017
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
81.3 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
34%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
31.5%
2022
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
39.4%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Madagascar South Africa
% of world population
0.39%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,227
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
32.4%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.2:49.8
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.42 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.02 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
22.6
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
25
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
31
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7.69
2015
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
29.2
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
67
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
77.5%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
18%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
20.4%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Madagascar South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$17.4
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$4.78
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
64.3 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
38.1%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.17
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.5 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
445
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
64.8
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
4.45%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.6%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
38
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
26.8%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.99 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Madagascar South Africa
% of world land
0.39%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
7,028 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
157,896 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
47,839 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
19,660 mi
2018
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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