Madagascar: immigration

How many refugees are there in Madagascar?

Madagascar hosted 87 refugees and 1,279 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR’s refugee statistics.

Asylum seekers are people whose claims for refugee status have not yet been decided. The numbers are small compared with the population of about 32.7 million. UNHCR compiles them from government and its own registration data and publishes them twice a year.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee data finder

Do more people leave or move to Madagascar?

Slightly more people left Madagascar than arrived in 2025, with net migration of minus 2,227 people, according to the World Bank, using UN population estimates. The figure was minus 1,795 in 2024.

Net migration is arrivals minus departures. Against a population of about 32.7 million it is close to zero, so population growth comes almost entirely from births exceeding deaths. International migrants made up about 0.1% of the population in 2024.

Official sources: World Bank: Net migration, Madagascar · World Bank: International migrant stock, Madagascar (API)

Who handles visas and immigration in Madagascar?

Madagascar issues visas, including electronic visas, through an official e-visa portal and its embassies. The e-visa portal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and the Ministry of the Interior website could not be reached on 15 October 2026, so the current visa fees and rules, and which office handles each step, could not be checked.

No official statistics on visas issued or residence permits were found online. Figures on refugees and asylum seekers are published by UNHCR, and the World Bank publishes net migration estimates.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee data finder · World Bank: Net migration, Madagascar

How many immigrants live in Madagascar?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 0.1%. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 2.2%, and Madagascar placed 48th highest of 48. Worldwide: 189th of 193.

What is net migration in Madagascar?

According to the UN Population Division, net migration in Madagascar was -2,227 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2008, at -1,255; its low point was 2005, at -4,869. Sub-Saharan Africa median: -5,646; Madagascar is 17th highest of 48. Worldwide: 98th of 193.

How many refugees live in Madagascar?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 87. Its high point since 2011 was 2021, at 165; its low point was 2011, at 5. It is 40th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 35,241. Of 169 countries with 2025 data, 144th highest.

How many refugees have fled Madagascar?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Madagascar was 637 in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 12,726; Madagascar is 37th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 110th of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to Madagascar?

According to the World Bank, personal remittances received in Madagascar was 3.1% of GDP in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 4.6% of GDP; its low point was 2005, at 1.7% of GDP. It is 10th highest of 20 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.6% of GDP. Worldwide: 49th of 127.