MigrantoMalagasy Diaspora
212.5K Malagasy live abroad — 1% of the population of Madagascar
Malagasy diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 90% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| France | 162751 |
| Reunion | 17859 |
| Mayotte | 10316 |
| Comoros | 9569 |
| Italy | 2903 |
| Belgium | 2773 |
| Mauritius | 2321 |
| Seychelles | 829 |
| China | 705 |
| Botswana | 591 |
| Norway | 547 |
| Australia | 348 |
| South Africa | 299 |
| Luxembourg | 225 |
| Greece | 138 |
| Denmark | 95 |
| Hungary | 52 |
| Portugal | 31 |
| Slovenia | 25 |
| Finland | 22 |
| Slovakia | 20 |
| Guinea | 8 |
| Cyprus | 6 |
| Lithuania | 6 |
| Bolivia | 6 |
| Costa Rica | 4 |
| Iceland | 3 |
| Bulgaria | 1 |
| Estonia | 1 |
| Liechtenstein | 1 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
80% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Malagasy diaspora in numbers
Most Malagasy abroad live in France
77% of the diaspora lives in France, while the next country accounts for just 8%.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: Luxembourg, Slovenia, Finland. Luxembourg climbed from outside the top 20 to #14.
Malagasy diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 82170 |
| 1995 | 98560 |
| 2000 | 119159 |
| 2005 | 143188 |
| 2010 | 156279 |
| 2015 | 175803 |
| 2020 | 196997 |
| 2024 | 212455 |
Largest communities over time
Malagasy living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | France | Reunion | Mayotte | Comoros | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64444 | 3339 | 1086 | 10810 | 663 |
| 1995 | 75139 | 7218 | 2061 | 10701 | 873 |
| 2000 | 88703 | 11431 | 3669 | 10595 | 1116 |
| 2005 | 107695 | 14218 | 4755 | 10142 | 1414 |
| 2010 | 116848 | 16210 | 5230 | 9689 | 1827 |
| 2015 | 133839 | 16763 | 5850 | 9651 | 2249 |
| 2020 | 150882 | 17363 | 8017 | 9605 | 2722 |
| 2024 | 162751 | 17859 | 10316 | 9569 | 2903 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Malagasy in each country has changed since the selected year
Malagasy among immigrants in other countries
Where Malagasy make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Malagasy live outside Madagascar?
Around 212.5K Malagasy live abroad, the world's #131 largest diaspora.
Where do most Malagasy abroad live?
Most Malagasy live in France, Reunion and Mayotte — these three countries account for about 90% of all Malagasy living abroad.
Which country has the largest Malagasy population outside Madagascar?
France is home to the largest Malagasy community abroad — 162.8K people, about 77% of all Malagasy living abroad.
What share of the population of Madagascar lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Madagascar lives abroad — that's 212.5K out of a total population of 32M.
Is the Malagasy diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Malagasy living abroad has grown from 175.8K to 212.5K, about 21%.
Where does the data on the Malagasy diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Madagascar who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Madagascar
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