Sofia: population, poverty, jobs, income, schools, water and health
Sofia is a region of Madagascar, number 4 of 23 by population. Sofia had 1,507,591 residents at the 2018 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH-3), 5.9% of Madagascar's 25.67 million; 4th largest of 23 regions. This is the latest official count by region.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Sofia: Households in Sofia spent and consumed the equivalent of 1,399,407 ariary per person a year in 2021-22, 8th highest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 1,374,484 ariary).
- Health in Sofia: 28.1% of children under five in Sofia were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of chronic undernutrition) in the 2021 Demographic and Health Survey, 9.8% were wasted and 14.9% underweight; the stunting rate is 4th lowest of 22 regions (Madagascar: 39.8%).
How many people in Sofia live in towns?
12.1% of Sofia's people lived in urban areas at the 2018 census (182,041 urban, 1,325,550 rural), 7th least urban of 23 regions (Madagascar: 19.3%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyHow densely populated is Sofia?
Sofia had 29.6 people per square kilometre in 2018, 7th least densely populated of 23 regions (Madagascar: 43.4).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyHow many households are there in Sofia?
The 2018 census counted 375,861 ordinary households in Sofia, with 4.0 people each on average, 5th smallest of 23 regions for household size (Madagascar: 4.2).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Sofia?
76.2% of people in Sofia lived below the national poverty line in the 2021-2022 Permanent Household Survey (EPM), 9th lowest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 77.0%); 47.8% in its towns and 80.0% in rural areas.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyHow many people in Sofia live in extreme poverty?
41.6% of people in Sofia were in extreme poverty in 2021-22, unable to afford even the minimum food basket, 8th lowest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 53.3%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyDo households in Sofia have enough to eat?
23.9% of households in Sofia had poor or borderline food consumption in 2021-22 (a diet lacking in variety or frequency), 7th 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 Sofia?
81.9% of people in Sofia could read and write in 2021-22, 9th highest 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 Sofia go to primary school?
81.0% of primary-school-age children in Sofia were enrolled in primary school in 2021-22 (net enrolment rate), 6th highest of 23 regions (Madagascar: 70.6%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), Madagascar · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty gap in Sofia was 26.5% in 2021-22, a measure of how far, on average, people fall below the poverty line; 8th lowest 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
- 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
- Betsiboka 393,278
- 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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