Madagascar (Republic of Madagascar)

https://www.humantruth.info/madagascar.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Madagascar Republic of Madagascar
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	150th best
Capital	Antananarivo
Land Area	581 540km²₁
Location	Africa
Population	26.3m₂
Life Expectancy	64.49yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$1 484 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	MG, MDG, 450₅
Internet Domain	.mg₆
Currency	Ariary (MGA)₇
Telephone	+261₈

1. Overview

“Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA handing over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. Numerous attempts have been made by regional and international organizations to resolve the subsequent political gridlock by forming a power-sharing government. Madagascar's independent electoral commission and the UN originally planned to hold a presidential election in early May 2013, but postponed the election until late July 2013, due to logistical delays.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Lemurs, baobabs, rainforest, beaches, desert, trekking and diving: Madagascar is a dream destination for nature and outdoor lovers, and half the fun is getting to all these incredible attractions.Madagascar is unique: 5% of all known animal and plant species can be found here, and here alone. The remarkable fauna and flora is matched by epic landscapes of an incredible diversity: you can go from rainforest to desert in just 300km. Few places on earth offer such an intense kaleidoscope of nature.
With 5000km of coastline, 450km of barrier reef and 250 islands, no stay in Madagascar would be complete without a few days on the island´s shores. Divers will revel in the choice of sites, from underwater `cathedrals´ to shipwrecks, and will relish the chance to see rays, whale sharks, reef sharks and many other kinds of sharks. Snorkellers will be awed by the sheer grace of turtles and marvel at the rainbow of colours displayed by corals and fish.
There is much history to discover, too, from the 12 sacred hills of Antananarivo to the pirate cemetery of Ile Sainte Marie and the vestige of Madagascar´s industrial revolution in Mantasoa.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Madagascar National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
170	Senegal	0.511
171	Djibouti	0.509
172	Sudan	0.508
173	Madagascar	0.501
174	Gambia	0.500
175	Ethiopia	0.498
176	Eritrea	0.492
177	Guinea-Bissau	0.483
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
179	Afghanistan	$1 824
180	Eritrea	$1 729
181	Sierra Leone	$1 622
182	Madagascar	$1 484
183	Malawi	$1 466
184	Chad	$1 364
185	Yemen	$1 314
186	Liberia	$1 289
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	27.2
2	Norway	29.2
3	Sweden	30.2
	...
147	Micronesia	111.1
148	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	111.4
149	Burkina Faso	111.7
150	Madagascar	112.3
151	Somaliland	112.4
152	Tuvalu	112.5
153	Uganda	112.5
154	Cambodia	113.2
	Africa Avg	115.2
	World Avg	89.2
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Madagascar's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Madagascar's population is predicted to rise to 35.33 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 3.79. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
48	Venezuela	28.9m
49	Yemen	28.5m
50	Nepal	28.1m
51	Madagascar	26.3m
52	N. Korea	25.5m
53	Cameroon	25.2m
54	Ivory Coast	25.1m
55	Australia	24.9m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
150	Sudan	65.3
151	Ethiopia	65.0
152	Tuvalu	64.5
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
170	Rwanda	3.75
171	Sao Tome & Principe	3.75
172	Eritrea	3.79
173	Madagascar	3.79
174	Malawi	3.85
175	Samoa	3.88
176	Sierra Leone	3.88
177	Comoros	3.91
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
33=	Sao Tome & Principe	06.2
34	Comoros	06.3
35=	Mozambique	06.4
35=	Madagascar	06.4
35=	Papua New Guinea	06.4
38=	Ghana	06.5
38=	Palestine	06.5
40=	Ethiopia	06.6
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
188	N. Korea	0.2%
189	Sri Lanka	0.2%
190	Myanmar	0.1%
191	Madagascar	0.1%
192	Indonesia	0.1%
193	Cuba	0.1%
194	Vietnam	0.1%
195	China	0.1%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
185	Qatar	0.7%
186	Nigeria	0.6%
187	Maldives	0.6%
188	China	0.6%
189	Japan	0.6%
190	Oman	0.5%
191	Madagascar	0.4%
192	Montenegro	0.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Madagascar's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Africa (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Cape Verde	65.1
2	S. Africa	70.5
3	Mauritius	76.4
	...
8	Lesotho	91.8
9	Burkina Faso	93.5
10	Senegal	94.6
11	Madagascar	100.2
12	Gabon	101.8
13	Mali	102.1
14	Rwanda	103.1
15	Mozambique	104.8
16	Tunisia	104.9
	Africa Avg	116.60
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
106	Samoa	98.2
107	St Kitts & Nevis	98.9
108	Turkey	99.7
109	Madagascar	100.2
110	Armenia	100.8
111	Tonga	101.0
112	Indonesia	101.5
113	Gabon	101.8
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

30 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #madagascar #mass_media #politics #slavery

Press Freedom Higher is better₂₁
Pos.		2025₂₁
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
109	Guinea-Bissau	51.36
110	Haiti	51.06
111	Israel	51.06
112	Madagascar	50.80
113	Georgia	50.53
114	Colombia	49.80
115	Philippines	49.57
116	Kenya	49.41
	Africa Avg	52.30
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₂₂
Pos.		Slavery in the 2020s Per 1000₂₂
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
62	Slovenia	4.40
63=	Guinea-Bissau	4.50
63=	Congo, DR	4.50
65=	Madagascar	4.60
65=	Niger	4.60
67=	Trinidad & Tobago	4.70
67=	Panama	4.70
69	Malawi	4.90
	Africa Avg	6.90
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

Madagascar practices conscription, which involves a mandatory period of service in the military. But the Walk Free Foundation reports that this sometimes becomes slave labour as some 'concscripts' are assigned to lengthy and arduous work which is clearly non-military in nature₂₃ such as public infrastructure and civil construction work.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
117=	Bosnia & Herzegovina	4.0
117=	Armenia	4.0
117=	Singapore	4.0
117=	Madagascar	4.0
117=	Malaysia	4.0
117=	Ukraine	4.0
123=	El Salvador	4.5
123=	Comoros	4.5
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₂₄
Pos.		2009 Treaties₂₄
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
117=	China	14
117=	Mauritius	14
117=	Botswana	14
117=	Madagascar	14
117=	Syria	14
117=	Sudan	14
117=	Cameroon	14
117=	Uzbekistan	14
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₅
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₅
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
58	Congo, DR	7.72
59	Seychelles	7.73
60	Jordan	7.75
61	Madagascar	7.75
62	Cuba	7.80
63	Guyana	7.85
64	Tanzania	8.05
65	Nicaragua	8.10
	Africa Avg	9.88
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Madagascar stated:

“Detention facilities were overcrowded and conditions poor. The right to freedom of expression was restricted. The judicial persecution of human rights defenders, activists and whistle-blowers persisted and an environmental defender was murdered. Cases of discrimination and violence against people with albinism increased. Abortion remained a criminal offence.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₂₆

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Madagascar and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting. Madagascar is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women.

See:

Gender Inequality Lower is better₂₇
Pos.		2022₂₇
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
141	Cameroon	0.56
142	Lesotho	0.56
143	Iraq	0.56
144	Madagascar	0.57
145	Togo	0.58
146	Malawi	0.58
147	Congo, (Brazzaville)	0.58
148	Gambia	0.59
	Africa Avg	0.53
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Year Women Can Vote Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
119=	Nigeria	1958
119=	Burkina Faso	1958
119=	Guinea	1958
122=	Madagascar	1959
122=	Tunisia	1959
122=	Tanzania	1959
125=	Tonga	1960
125=	Cyprus	1960
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#2020s #freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₂₈
Pos.		LGBT Equality in the 2020s Score₂₈
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
114	Palau	-0.65
115	Congo, (Brazzaville)	-0.68
116	Guinea-Bissau	-0.73
117	Madagascar	-0.76
118	Turkey	-0.83
119	Bulgaria	-0.85
120	Philippines	-1.06
121	Burkina Faso	-1.15
	Africa Avg	-3.78
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

In Madagascar, same-sex sexual activity is legal only for people over 21 (heterosexual age of consent is 14). Fearing the worldwide shift towards tolerance, same-sex marriage and civil partnerships were banned in 2007, adoption is restricted to heterosexual married couples, and there are no broad anti-discrimination protections. LGBT people can serve in the military, but gender identity recognition is prohibited. Public morality provisions have been used to harass LGBT folk, especially since the 1972 legalization framework left in place vague �€�indecency�€� laws that criminalize same-sex relations under 21, effectively functioning as morality-based harassment.

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Madagascar had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₂₉
Pos.		2021₂₉
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
128=	Macedonia	3.3
128=	Liberia	3.3
128=	Malawi	3.3
128=	Madagascar	3.3
132=	Burundi	3.5
132=	Guinea	3.5
132=	Equatorial Guinea	3.5
132=	Tanzania	3.5
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Madagascar's Health

#health

Compared to Africa (2025)₃₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₀
1	Mauritius	72.2
2	Tunisia	73.9
3	Seychelles	78.0
	...
37	Cameroon	137.0
38	Burkina Faso	138.2
39	Congo, DR	139.9
40	Madagascar	140.1
41	Sierra Leone	141.1
42	Liberia	141.6
43	Niger	142.5
44	Ivory Coast	142.7
45	Chad	143.4
	Africa Avg	127.77
q=54.

Health (2025)₃₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₀
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
188	Burkina Faso	138.2
189	Yemen	138.8
190	Congo, DR	139.9
191	Madagascar	140.1
192	Sierra Leone	141.1
193	Marshall Islands	141.2
194	Liberia	141.6
195	Niger	142.5
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₁.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₁, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₁.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #madagascar #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide

Madagascar is a pretty unhealthy country. Madagascar does better than average in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₂, its alcohol consumption rate₃₃ and in its suicide rate₃₄. But unfortunately Madagascar gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in its smoking rate₃₅, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₆, its average life expectancy₁₁ (still high for Africa), childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₇ and in its fertility rate₁₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₈, its adolescent birth rate₃₉ and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₄₀. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Madagascar in 1990 was 51.7yrs, lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +14.2yrs in the 30 years from then, almost double the global average of +7.9yrs. Madagascar's peak fertility rate was 7.31 in 1965.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
150	Sudan	65.3
151	Ethiopia	65.0
152	Tuvalu	64.5
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₃
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
36=	Lebanon	1.5
37	Chad	1.6
38	Tuvalu	1.7
39=	Madagascar	1.9
39=	Tunisia	1.9
39=	Bahrain	1.9
42=	Qatar	2.0
42=	Nepal	2.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
170	Rwanda	3.75
171	Sao Tome & Principe	3.75
172	Eritrea	3.79
173	Madagascar	3.79
174	Malawi	3.85
175	Samoa	3.88
176	Sierra Leone	3.88
177	Comoros	3.91
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₅
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
120	Portugal	25.7%
121	Maldives	26.4%
122	Belgium	26.8%
123	Madagascar	26.9%
124	Cook Islands	27.0%
125	Laos	27.2%
126	Kyrgyzstan	27.3%
127	Fiji	27.6%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₃₄
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
70	Bahrain	5.67
71	Zambia	5.73
72	Sierra Leone	5.86
73	Madagascar	5.89
74	Liberia	5.90
75	Belize	6.00
76	Brazil	6.08
77=	Paraguay	6.10
	Africa Avg	7.70
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
133	Grenada	133
134	Montenegro	134
135	Iraq	135
136	Madagascar	136
137	Congo, (Brazzaville)	137
138	Albania	138
139	Ghana	139
140	Chad	140
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		1976 %₃₂
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
17	Niger	7.8
18	Rwanda	7.9
19	Uganda	8.0
20=	Madagascar	8.1
20=	Eritrea	8.1
22	Chad	8.2
23	Mozambique	8.3
24	Malawi	8.4
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₁
Pos.		2022 %₄₁
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
4	Madagascar	3.8%
5	Eritrea	4.2%
6	Cambodia	4.4%
7	Burundi	4.5%
8	Rwanda	4.6%
9	Japan	4.9%
10	Bangladesh	5.3%
11	Niger	5.3%
12	Chad	5.7%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₉
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
183	Somalia	116.1
184	Zambia	116.1
185	Malawi	117.2
186	Madagascar	118.1
187	Liberia	122.0
188	Tanzania	123.4
189	Chad	135.7
190	Angola	135.8
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₄₀
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₄₀
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
198	Syria	68.3
199	Gabon	67.4
200	Nigeria	65.8
201	Madagascar	65.5
202	Guinea	65.0
203	Haiti	64.5
204	Angola	64.2
205	Afghanistan	62.7
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₈
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₈
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
174	Liberia	72.6
175	S. Africa	72.5
176=	Angola	71.9
176=	Madagascar	71.9
178	Iraq	70.7
179	Afghanistan	70.6
180	Niger	69.7
181	Samoa	68.1
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₇
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
166	Zimbabwe	63.76
167	Sudan	65.51
168	Djibouti	66.40
169	Madagascar	66.96
170	Ethiopia	67.34
171	Burundi	71.23
172	Afghanistan	74.59
173	Haiti	76.58
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

From the 1970s to the 1980s, only 4 countries saw their infant mortality rate worsen; Madagascar fared the worst₃₇.

Madagascar was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19); in the 2010s it was still amongst only 27 countries that still fell into the same grouping.

6. Madagascar's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #madagascar #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₂
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
4	Madagascar	52.4
5	Nigeria	55.8
6	Rwanda	56.4
7	Uganda	57.8
8	Kenya	57.9
9	Mauritius	58.1
10	Ghana	58.6
11	Tunisia	60.1
12	Niger	61.3
13	Tanzania	61.6
	Africa Avg	78.58
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₂
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
10	Costa Rica	49.7
11	Denmark	50.4
12	Mali	51.0
13	Madagascar	52.4
14	Nigeria	55.8
15	Rwanda	56.4
16	Chile	56.4
17	Peru	56.7
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₃. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Madagascar comes 13th-best in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed using 21 data sets. Madagascar comes in the best 20 for reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₄ (amongst the lowest in Africa) and in energy to GDP efficiency₄₅. It does better than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₆ (one of the best in Africa) and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. Madagascar still has work to do. Madagascar does worse than average in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₇. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 for its environmental performance₄₈ (one of the worst in Africa).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₇
Pos.		Total₄₇
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
167	Peru	-4.0%
168	S. Africa	-4.1%
169	Brunei	-4.3%
170	Madagascar	-4.6%
171	Togo	-4.7%
172	Zambia	-4.8%
173	Laos	-4.8%
174	Zimbabwe	-5.1%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₈
Pos.		2018₄₈
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
172	Niger	35.7
173	Lesotho	33.8
174	Haiti	33.7
175	Madagascar	33.7
176	Nepal	31.4
177	India	30.6
178	Congo, DR	30.4
179	Bangladesh	29.6
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₅
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₅
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
4	Uganda	0.37
5	Sierra Leone	0.37
6	Malawi	0.37
7	Madagascar	0.38
8	Sri Lanka	0.39
9	Burundi	0.41
10	Central African Rep.	0.41
11	Ethiopia	0.42
12	Afghanistan	0.43
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
60	Morocco	66%
61	Congo, DR	65%
62	Sri Lanka	65%
63	Madagascar	65%
64	China	64%
65	Malaysia	64%
66	Botswana	64%
67	El Salvador	64%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Madagascar is one of 18 countries who enacted Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in its first year (1975).

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2011 %₄₆
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
19	Peru	63.9%
20	Chile	63.8%
21	Ivory Coast	63.7%
22	Madagascar	62.8%
23	Uruguay	62.4%
24	Angola	62.4%
25	Bangladesh	61.5%
26	Mali	60.7%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₄
Pos.		2021 kg₄₄
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
4	Madagascar	05.4
5	India	05.7
6	Nigeria	07.0
7	Ethiopia	07.1
8	Rwanda	07.6
9	Mali	07.8
10	Niger	08.1
11	Afghanistan	08.7
12	Uganda	09.4
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

In the 2010s, Madagascar had the 5th-lowest meat consumption per person in the world.₄₄

7. Madagascar's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₉
1	S. Africa	63.3
2	Seychelles	63.4
3	Tunisia	68.7
	...
29	Equatorial Guinea	130.2
30	Mali	130.7
31	Burkina Faso	130.7
32	Madagascar	131.6
33	Lesotho	131.8
34	Tanzania	132.1
35	Rwanda	135.7
36	Guinea-Bissau	136.6
37	Central African Rep.	137.0
	Africa Avg	124.71
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₉
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
161	Equatorial Guinea	130.2
162	Mali	130.7
163	Burkina Faso	130.7
164	Madagascar	131.6
165	Lesotho	131.8
166	Tanzania	132.1
167	Rwanda	135.7
168	Guinea-Bissau	136.6
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₅₀. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₀. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₁.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₂

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₀, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₀.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #research #science

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₃
2	Israel	4.11₅₃
3	Japan	3.58₅₃
	...
104=	Gambia	0.13₅₄
105=	Tajikistan	0.12₅₅
105=	Burundi	0.12₅₄
107=	Madagascar	0.11₅₄
107=	Philippines	0.11₅₆
107=	Myanmar	0.11₅₇
110	Peru	0.10₅₈
111	Paraguay	0.09₅₉
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
103	Cape Verde	103
104	Swaziland	104
105	Albania	105
106	Madagascar	106
107	Thailand	107
108	Yemen	108
109	Brazil	109
110	Nicaragua	110
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₆₀
Pos.		2025 %₆₀
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
99=	Kazakhstan	95
99=	Israel	95
101=	Iraq	90
101=	Madagascar	90
101=	Dominica	90
101=	Malawi	90
101=	Iran	90
101=	Haiti	90
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Madagascar officially adopted metric in 1960₆₁. Progression:

1960 (60%): French metric legacy; traditional units common.
1970 (75%): Commerce/education standardization.
1980 (85%): Metric dominant officially; informal legacy persists.
2000 (90%).
2025 (90%).

IQ Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2006₆₂
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
93=	Bangladesh	82
93=	Lebanon	82
93=	Dominican Rep.	82
93=	Madagascar	82
97=	Egypt	81
97=	Honduras	81
97=	Nicaragua	81
100	El Salvador	80
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Length of Schooling Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2021 Years₆₃
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
165	Mozambique	10.2
166	Uganda	10.1
167	Laos	10.1
168	Madagascar	10.1
169	Honduras	10.1
170	Nigeria	10.1
171	Congo, DR	9.8
172	Guinea	9.8
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
179	Afghanistan	17%
180	Malawi	17%
181	Ethiopia	16%
182	Madagascar	16%
183	Yemen	14%
184	Burkina Faso	14%
185	Chad	12%
186	Burundi	11%
	Africa Avg	41.0%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

8. Madagascar's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Africa (2025)₆₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₄
1	Mauritius	48.7
2=	Seychelles	67.2
3	Tunisia	77.0
	...
26	Mauritania	109.3
27	Togo	109.4
28	Gabon	111.0
29	Madagascar	111.3
30	Benin	111.5
31	Nigeria	113.0
32	Swaziland	113.4
33	Liberia	114.3
34	Niger	114.5
	Africa Avg	109.31
q=53.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₆₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₄
1	Denmark	10.4
2	Netherlands	11.8
3	Finland	12.2
	...
146	Togo	109.4
147	Lebanon	110.5
148	Gabon	111.0
149	Madagascar	111.3
150	Laos	111.4
151	Benin	111.5
152	Turkmenistan	111.5
153	Pakistan	112.2
	World Avg	80.47
q=183.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 39 datasets, including multiple decades of data on resisting corruption, Creativity and Culture, overall happiness, Open Trading, Aid and Development, passport utility (so far), personal financial stability, World Giving Index, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #freedom #happiness #internationalism #politics

Madagascar has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption.

Corruption Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2022 Points₆₅
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
141=	Kyrgyzstan	27.0
142=	Liberia	26.0
142=	Mozambique	26.0
142=	Madagascar	26.0
142=	Cameroon	26.0
142=	Uganda	26.0
147=	Guinea	25.0
147=	Bangladesh	25.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
94	Papua New Guinea	94
95	Belarus	95
96	Mongolia	96
97	Madagascar	97
98	Bolivia	98
99	El Salvador	99
100	Nicaragua	100
101	Russia	101
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Happiness Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2024 Score₆₆
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
127	Togo	4.3
128	Jordan	4.3
129	Liberia	4.3
130	Madagascar	4.2
131	Zambia	3.9
132	Ethiopia	3.9
133	Sri Lanka	3.9
134	Bangladesh	3.9
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
100	Argentina	100
101	Seychelles	101
102	Australia	102
103	Madagascar	103
104	Dominica	104
105	Iceland	105
106	Bolivia	106
107	Ghana	107
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₆₇
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
147	Gabon	58.0
148	Ivory Coast	57.3
149	Senegal	56.8
150	Madagascar	56.5
151	Togo	56.2
152	Papua New Guinea	55.8
153	Equatorial Guinea	55.7
154=	Mali	54.5
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Higher is better₆₈
Pos.		Personal Financial Stability in the 2020s Score₆₈
1	Denmark	9.06
2	Switzerland	9.00
3	Finland	8.96
	...
125	Burkina Faso	5.35
126	Algeria	5.34
127	Swaziland	5.33
128	Madagascar	5.33
129	Libya	5.32
130	Malawi	5.30
131	Ukraine	5.28
132	Belize	5.21
	Africa Avg	5.48
	World Avg	6.46
q=165.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2023 Score₆₉
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
52	Senegal	1.83
53	Indonesia	1.83
54	Argentina	1.84
55	Madagascar	1.85
56	Namibia	1.86
57	Moldova	1.87
58	Chile	1.87
59	Gambia	1.89
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
22	Algeria	22
23	Guatemala	23
24	Ecuador	24
25	Madagascar	25
26	Sri Lanka	26
27	Netherlands	27
28	Mongolia	28
29	Rwanda	29
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₆
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
123	Guinea	123
124	Congo, (Brazzaville)	124
125	Swaziland	125
126	Madagascar	126
127	Benin	127
128	Yemen	128
129	Pakistan	129
130	Samoa	130
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₇₀
Pos.		2019 Score₇₀
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
66	Kazakhstan	1.57
67	Austria	1.66
68	Argentina	1.68
69	Madagascar	1.96
70	Finland	2.03
71	Haiti	2.18
72	Kosovo	2.26
73	Japan	2.29
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better₇₁
Pos.		Poverty (2020s) %₇₁
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
98	Burkina Faso	42.06%
99	Kenya	45.92%
100	Niger	60.49%
101	Madagascar	69.17%
102	Central African Rep.	71.62%
103	Zambia	71.66%
104	Burundi	74.20%
105	Mozambique	81.36%
	Africa Avg	41.51%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

One fifth of Madagascar's population's fell into poverty between the 1980s and the 1990s, raising its poverty rate from 16% to 42%.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₇₂
Pos.		2019₇₂
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
129	Botswana	19.40
130	Rwanda	19.50
131	India	19.70
132	Madagascar	21.10
133	Senegal	21.20
134	Eritrea	21.40
135	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	21.70
136	Namibia	22.10
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₇₃
Pos.		2023 %₇₃
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₄
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₄
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₅
	...
131	Papua New Guinea	41.9%₇₆
132	Cameroon	42.2%₇₄
133	Cape Verde	42.4%₇₇
134	Madagascar	42.6%₇₈
135	Uganda	42.7%₇₉
136=	Central African Rep.	43.0%₇₄
136=	Chile	43.0%₈₀
138=	Ghana	43.5%₈₁
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Madagascar - only for 8 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₈₂
Pos.		2018 Severity₈₂
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
91	Congo, DR	.389
92	Burundi	.403
93	Mozambique	.411
94	Madagascar	.453
95	Mali	.457
96	Central African Rep.	.465
97	Ethiopia	.489
98	Burkina Faso	.519
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #mozambique

Between 2010 and 2020, Madagascar saw the world's 2^nd-biggest increase in the percent of its population calling itself Christians (+4.2%), after Mozambique.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₃:

	2010	2020
Christian	70%	74.2%
Unaffiliated	22.5%	22.3%
Other	6.86%	2.25%
Muslim	0.63%	1.16%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%₈₄.

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