Madagascar · Africa
How many people die in Madagascar every day?
In Madagascar, about 521 people die every day, roughly one death every 3 minutes. That is about 190,000 deaths a year, 0.3% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 49th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 64.5 years and the leading cause of death is lower respiratory infections. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
521
Deaths per year
190,000
Life expectancy
64.5 years
Population
30,325,732
Death rate
6.3 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Lower respiratory infections
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Madagascar
64.5
World avg
72.8
-8.3 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Madagascar
6.3
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Madagascar by time period
| Per hour | 22 |
| Per day | 521 |
| Per week | 3,644 |
| Per month | 15,833 |
| Per year | 190,000 |
What people die of in Madagascar
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Madagascar in 2023 was pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections, which accounted for 12.9% of all deaths, about 79 a day. It was followed by stroke and malaria.
Deaths from malaria have increased about 7-fold since 2000, from about 2,239 to 15,974 a year. Deaths from diarrhoeal diseases have fallen by 42% since 2000, from about 24,229 to 14,153 a year.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 28,801 | 79 | 12.9% | +5% |
| 2 | Stroke | 17,794 | 49 | 8% | +84% |
| 3 | Malaria | 15,974 | 44 | 7.1% | +613% |
| 4 | Diarrhoeal diseases | 14,153 | 39 | 6.3% | -42% |
| 5 | Tuberculosis | 10,670 | 29 | 4.8% | +30% |
| 6 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 8,030 | 22 | 3.6% | +114% |
| 7 | Preterm birth complications | 7,795 | 21 | 3.5% | +7% |
| 8 | Road injuries | 7,428 | 20 | 3.3% | +80% |
| 9 | Hypertensive heart disease | 7,192 | 20 | 3.2% | +134% |
| 10 | Birth asphyxia and birth trauma | 5,628 | 15 | 2.5% | +11% |
Deaths in Madagascar since 2000
WHO estimates that about 223,660 people died in Madagascar in 2023, 38% more than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 162,392 deaths |
| 2010 | 168,310 deaths |
| 2019 | 200,989 deaths |
| 2023 | 223,660 deaths |
Life expectancy in Madagascar since 1950
A baby born in Madagascar in 1950 could expect to live about 39.7 years. By 2023 that had risen to 63.6, a gain of 23.9 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 39.7 years |
| 1980 | 50 years |
| 2000 | 58 years |
| 2010 | 62.6 years |
| 2019 | 63.5 years |
| 2023 | 63.6 years |
Madagascar compared with similar countries in Africa
Among the 50 countries in Africa on this site, Madagascar ranks 15th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madagascar | 521 | 64.5 | Lower respiratory infections |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 575 | 58.7 | Malaria |
| Cameroon | 575 | 60.3 | Malaria |
| Ghana | 575 | 64.1 | Malaria |
| Niger | 575 | 62 | Malaria |
| Mozambique | 767 | 59.3 | HIV/AIDS |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Madagascar every day?
In Madagascar, about 521 people die every day, or roughly one death every 3 minutes. That adds up to about 190,000 deaths a year, 0.3% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Madagascar?
Lower respiratory infections is the leading cause of death in Madagascar. It is one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide, and most deaths from it could be avoided with prevention and treatment. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections first in 2023, with 12.9% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Madagascar?
Life expectancy at birth in Madagascar is 64.5 years, 8.3 years below the world average of 72.8. That ranks 151st of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Madagascar high?
Madagascar records about 6.3 deaths per 1,000 people each year, below the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.