Madagascar: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Madagascar?

Life expectancy at birth in Madagascar was 63.8 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN population estimates. It was 65.6 years for women and 62.1 years for men.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if current death rates stayed the same. High child mortality pulls the average down. Current health spending was 3.4% of GDP in 2023.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Madagascar · World Bank: Life expectancy, female (API) · World Bank: Life expectancy, male (API) · World Bank: Current health expenditure, Madagascar

What is the infant mortality rate in Madagascar?

Madagascar's infant mortality rate was 43.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN inter-agency estimates. The under-five mortality rate was 62.4 per 1,000.

Infant mortality counts deaths before the first birthday, and under-five mortality deaths before the fifth. The figures are modelled estimates that combine surveys and other sources, because many deaths are not registered.

Official sources: World Bank: Infant mortality rate, Madagascar · World Bank: Under-five mortality rate, Madagascar

What is the maternal mortality rate in Madagascar?

Madagascar's maternal mortality ratio was an estimated 445 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Bank, using UN inter-agency estimates. The estimate for 2022 was 439.

The ratio counts women who die from causes linked to pregnancy or childbirth for every 100,000 babies born alive. It is a modelled estimate with a wide margin of uncertainty, so small changes from one year to the next should not be read as a trend.

Official sources: World Bank: Maternal mortality ratio, Madagascar

How common is malaria in Madagascar?

There were an estimated 255 malaria cases per 1,000 people at risk in Madagascar in 2024, according to the World Bank, using World Health Organization estimates. The rate was 200 in 2023 and 117 in 2022.

The rate counts new cases in a year among people living in areas where malaria is transmitted. The estimates are modelled from reported cases and adjusted for cases that are never reported to health services. The Ministry of Public Health runs the national malaria programme.

Official sources: World Bank: Incidence of malaria, Madagascar (API)

How many children in Madagascar are stunted?

39.8% of children under five in Madagascar were stunted in 2021, according to the World Bank, using UNICEF, WHO and World Bank joint estimates. The share was 41.6% in 2018 and 48.9% in 2012.

A child is counted as stunted if they are much shorter than the international standard for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition. The figures come from household surveys, which are not run every year, so 2021 is the latest point.

Official sources: World Bank: Prevalence of stunting, Madagascar (API)

What is life expectancy in Madagascar?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Madagascar was 63.8 years in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 28th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 64.3 years. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 172nd highest.

How many babies die in Madagascar?

The latest figure from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, for 2024, is 43.0 per 1,000. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 37.2 per 1,000, and Madagascar placed 19th highest of 48. Worldwide: 21st of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Madagascar?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in Madagascar at 445 per 100,000 in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 439 per 100,000 (2022) to 540 per 100,000 (2005). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 257 per 100,000; Madagascar is 11th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 12th of 192.

What is Madagascar's health spending?

In 2023, current health spending in Madagascar was 3.4% of GDP, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.1% of GDP (2019) to 5.3% of GDP (2016). It is 38th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.4% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 168th of 191.

How much do people in Madagascar pay for health care themselves?

27.4%: that is out-of-pocket health spending in Madagascar for 2023, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 37.7%; its low point was 2016, at 23.1%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 32.4%; Madagascar is 31st highest of 48. Worldwide: 98th of 191.

How many doctors per person does Madagascar have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2022, is 0.17 per 1,000. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.14 per 1,000 (2012) to 0.20 per 1,000 (2018). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.18 per 1,000, and Madagascar placed 26th highest of 46. World rank, highest first: 104th of 125.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Madagascar?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 46.0%. The peak was 81.0% in 2007 and the low 43.0% in 2021. It is 45th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 81.0%. World rank, highest first: 185th of 191.