Betsiboka: population, poverty, jobs, income, schools, water and health
Betsiboka is a region of Madagascar, number 22 of 23 by population. Betsiboka had 393,278 residents at the 2018 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-3), 1.5% of Madagascar's 25.67 million; 2nd smallest of 23 regions. This is the latest official count by region.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Betsiboka: Households in Betsiboka spent and consumed the equivalent of 1,124,766 ariary per person a year in 2021-22, 9th lowest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 1,374,484 ariary).
- Health in Betsiboka: 29.6% of children under five in Betsiboka were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of chronic undernutrition) in the 2021 Demographic and Health Survey, 7.3% were wasted and 19.4% underweight; the stunting rate is 6th lowest of 22 regions (Madagascar: 39.8%).
How many people in Betsiboka live in towns?
12.9% of Betsiboka's people lived in urban areas at the 2018 census (50,899 urban, 342,379 rural), 9th least urban of 23 regions (Madagascar: 19.3%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyHow densely populated is Betsiboka?
Betsiboka had 13.6 people per square kilometre in 2018, 2nd least densely populated of 23 regions (Madagascar: 43.4).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyHow many households are there in Betsiboka?
The 2018 census counted 88,606 ordinary households in Betsiboka, with 4.4 people each on average, 11th largest of 23 regions for household size (Madagascar: 4.2).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Betsiboka?
88.3% of people in Betsiboka lived below the national poverty line in the 2021-2022 Permanent Household Survey (EPM), 9th highest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 77.0%); 77.1% in its towns and 89.7% in rural areas.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyHow many people in Betsiboka live in extreme poverty?
57.9% of people in Betsiboka were in extreme poverty in 2021-22, unable to afford even the minimum food basket, 11th highest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 53.3%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyDo households in Betsiboka have enough to eat?
28.2% of households in Betsiboka had poor or borderline food consumption in 2021-22 (a diet lacking in variety or frequency), 4th highest of 22 regions in the survey table (Madagascar: 20.6%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyWhat is the literacy rate in Betsiboka?
70.8% of people in Betsiboka could read and write in 2021-22, 11th lowest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 76.5% of people aged 15 and over).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyHow many children in Betsiboka go to primary school?
68.3% of primary-school-age children in Betsiboka were enrolled in primary school in 2021-22 (net enrolment rate), 10th lowest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 70.6%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty gap in Betsiboka was 35.8% in 2021-22, a measure of how far, on average, people fall below the poverty line; 12th highest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 33.8%). Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copy
How regions are governed in Madagascar
Provinces (6). Not operational. Provided for in the constitution but never set up.
Every tier of government in Madagascar
Other regions of Madagascar
- Analamanga 3,623,925
- Vakinankaratra 2,079,659
- Atsimo Andrefana 1,797,894
- Sofia 1,507,591
- Atsinanana 1,478,472
- Haute Matsiatra 1,444,587
- Alaotra Mangoro 1,249,931
- Analanjirofo 1,150,089
- Sava 1,123,772
- Atsimo Atsinanana 1,030,404
- Boeny 929,312
- Androy 900,235
- Itasy 898,549
- Diana 889,962
- Amoron'i Mania 837,116
- Anosy 809,051
- Fitovinany 734,982
- Vatovavy 705,675
- Menabe 692,463
- Bongolava 670,993
- Ihorombe 417,312
- Melaky 308,944
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Sources
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), with ICF (The DHS Program): Enquête Démographique et de Santé à Madagascar (EDSMD-V) 2021, Indicateurs clés: Tables 4, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 16 by region, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e371523653bb…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar: Rapport EPM 2021-2022 (Enquête Permanente auprès des Ménages): Tables 18.7 and R.3 (poverty), G.1 (consumption per head), E.2 (household income), 4.18 (wages), D.9 and D.12 (unemployment), B.1 and B.2 (literacy and primary enrolment), J.3 (drinking water), J.5 (improved latrines) and 8.5 (food consumption), by region, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6b7935e61bbc…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar: Résultats globaux du RGPH-3 de 2018, Tome 2: Table 7 (resident population by urban/rural area, region and district, with density) and Table 15 (ordinary households and household size by region and district), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 20d572315f74…)
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