Population and Demographics of Madagascar
Population changed +2.47% in 2024 · median age 19 years
Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Madagascar moved +93.5% in population size. The medium projection reaches 53.19 million in 2050, placing the mid-century total 66.4% above 2024.
Population Over Time in Madagascar
Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Madagascar added roughly 15.45 million people, leaving the 2024 total at 31.965M. By 2050, the medium path reaches 53.185M, which would make the population substantially larger than in 2024. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
The broad age bands show a very young population structure in Madagascar. Children under 15 make up 39.26% of the population, compared with 3.41% aged 65 or older, and 57.33% are 15 to 64. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
Madagascar's 2024 population is 49.8% female and 50.2% male in the World Bank series. The split is close to even.
Female and male population share
Males made up 50.2% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.8% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Madagascar's +2.47% annual change in 2024 sits beside fertility of 3.9 children per woman, alongside a 39.26% child share and 3.41% older-adult share.
From 2000 to 2024, Madagascar's population moved +93.5%, and the projected 2024-to-2050 movement is +66.4%; a separate component dataset would be needed to explain how much comes from natural change or migration.
2024 estimate for Madagascar. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Madagascar vs. World
The world comparison highlights three contrasts for Madagascar. Annual change is +2.47% versus +0.87% globally, fertility is 3.9 versus 2.25, and median age is 19 versus 30.6 years.
| Indicator | Madagascar | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +2.47% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 3.9 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 19 | 30.6 | 2024 |
All three comparison rows use 2024 values from the same harmonized country table. That table attributes its demographic series to UN World Population Prospects 2024, so no different-year values are mixed into this comparison.
Key Takeaways
Madagascar has 31,964,956 people in the 2024 estimate, with the population changing +2.47% over the year.
Broad age shares show 3.41% aged 65+ compared with 39.26% under 15; the 15 to 64 group accounts for 57.33%.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 49.8% female and 50.2% male.
By 2050, the medium projection is 53.185M, differing from 2024 by roughly 21.22 million people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Madagascar?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Madagascar is 31,964,956 people.
Is the population of Madagascar growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Madagascar's population is growing, with annual change of +2.47%.
What percentage of the population of Madagascar is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 3.41% of Madagascar's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Madagascar in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Madagascar's 2050 population at 53,185,475.
What is the fertility rate in Madagascar?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Madagascar is 3.9 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.