Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Madagascar
Madagascar: Total population living in extreme poverty by world region was 20.93 million people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Madagascar, 1980–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Madagascar recorded 20.93 million people for total population living in extreme poverty by world region in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 44.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Madagascar peaked at 20.93 million people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.56 million people, in 1980.
That places Madagascar 9th out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.56 million people | — |
| 1993 | 11.07 million people | +99.0% |
| 1997 | 12.09 million people | +9.3% |
| 1999 | 12.56 million people | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 9.79 million people | -22.1% |
| 2005 | 10.60 million people | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 14.48 million people | +36.7% |
| 2012 | 16.11 million people | +11.2% |
| 2021 | 20.93 million people | +29.9% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 20.93 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.40 million people, 2.2× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 20.93 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.40 million people, 2.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.56 million people | 5.56 million people | 5.56 million people | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.91 million people | 11.07 million people | 12.56 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 10.19 million people | 9.79 million people | 10.60 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.30 million people | 14.48 million people | 16.11 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 20.93 million people | 20.93 million people | 20.93 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More poverty & inequality data for Madagascar
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 3.97 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,426 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -18.49 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 10.39 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 10.4% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Madagascar?
- Total population living in extreme poverty by world region in Madagascar was 20.93 million people in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 20.93 million people in 2021.
- What is the lowest total population living in extreme poverty by world region recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.56 million people in 1980.
- How does Madagascar rank for total population living in extreme poverty by world region?
- Madagascar ranks 9th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total population living in extreme poverty by world region rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Madagascar data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total population living in extreme poverty by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.