Madagascar
Republic of Madagascar
Eastern Africa · MDG
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Madagascar
Madagascar is for travelers who want unusual wildlife and landscapes that feel genuinely separate from mainland Africa, not for people chasing easy logistics. It works best as one well-chosen circuit such as Antananarivo plus Andasibe and the central highlands or a west-coast route around baobabs and tsingy, rather than as an island-wide sprint.
Popular For
Things To See
- Antananarivo
- Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
- Isalo National Park
- Tsingy de Bemaraha
- Avenue of the Baobabs
- Nosy Be
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Road times are long and infrastructure is uneven, so a short trip needs fewer stops than the map suggests.
- Wildlife-focused east routes, baobab-and-tsingy west routes, and beach add-ons all make sense, but rarely in one compact itinerary.
- Madagascar rewards patience more than pace.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Madagascar.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Madagascar Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Madagascar.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Antananarivo
- Population
- 31,727,042
- Area
- 587,041 km²
- Region
- Eastern Africa
Languages
- French
- Malagasy
Currency
Malagasy ariary (Ar)
MGA
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
28.9
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 23.8
- Restaurants
- 15.4
- Rent
- 7.4
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Antananarivo (18.92°S, 47.52°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
30/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 48/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.487
Low human development
- 5-year change
- -0.014
- 10-year change
- -0.010
- Trend
- declining
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.934
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.584
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.481
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🌿
Rainforests of the Atsinanana
Inscribed 2007
- 🏛️
Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
Inscribed 2001
- 🌿
Andrefana Dry Forests
Inscribed 1990
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 12.7%
- Forest cover
- 21.3%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 133
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 37
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
29/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
76/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased cautionto Madagascar due to crime, unrest, and health. Some areas have increased risk. Crime Violent crime, such as armed robbery and assault, occurs throughout Madagascar, particularly after dark, in remote areas, and along major national roads in the south and western areas of the country. Petty crime is common, especially in tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings. Unrest Strikes and other protest activity related to political and economic conditions occur regularly, particularly in periods near elections. Violent confrontations between the Dahalo (criminal gangs that steal cattle) and security forces have increased in several regions of Madagascar, particularly in areas south and west of the capital. Health Medical infrastructure is very limited in populated areas of Madagascar and is extremely limited in rural areas of Madagascar. Serious medical emergencies in Madagascar require medical evacuation. Review the Health section of the Travel Guidance on this page for more information.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data