Madagascar vs Norway Comparison

Country Comparison
Madagascar Flag

Madagascar

32.7M (2025)

VS
Norway Flag

Norway

5.6M (2025)

Comprehensive comparison across 9 categories and 44 indicators

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Madagascar Flag

Madagascar

Population: 32.7M (2025) Area: 587K km² GDP: $18.7B (2025)
Capital: Antananarivo
Continent: Africa
Official Languages: Malagasy, French
Currency: MGA
HDI: 0.487 (183.)
Norway Flag

Norway

Population: 5.6M (2025) Area: 323.8K km² GDP: $504.3B (2025)
Capital: Oslo
Continent: Europe
Official Languages: Norwegian
Currency: NOK
HDI: 0.970 (2.)

Geography and Demographics

Madagascar
Norway
Area
587K km²
323.8K km²
Total population
32.7M (2025)
5.6M (2025)
Population density
53.6 people/km² (2025)
15 people/km² (2025)
Average age
19.2 (2025)
39.8 (2025)

Economy and Finance

Madagascar
Norway
Total GDP
$18.7B (2025)
$504.3B (2025)
GDP per capita
$595 (2025)
$89,690 (2025)
Inflation rate
8.4% (2025)
2.6% (2025)
Growth rate
3.9% (2025)
2.1% (2025)
Minimum wage
$55 (2024)
No data
Tourism revenue
$200M (2025)
$9.4B (2025)
Unemployment rate
2.9% (2025)
4.0% (2025)
Public debt
37.1% (2025)
56.3% (2025)
Trade balance
-$245 (2025)
$4.4K (2025)

Quality of Life and Health

Madagascar
Norway
Human development
0.487 (183.)
0.970 (2.)
Happiness index
4,157 (130.)
7,262 (7.)
Health Exp. per Cap. ($)
$16 (3%)
$8.7K (7.9%)
Life expectancy
64 (2025)
83.6 (2025)
Safety index
54.1 (139.)
93.2 (5.)

Education and Technology

Madagascar
Norway
Education Exp. (% GDP)
2.9% (2025)
4.1% (2025)
Literacy rate
76.1% (2025)
No data
Primary school completion
76.1% (2025)
No data
Internet usage
24.3% (2025)
99.7% (2025)
Internet speed
31.31 Mbps (124.)
164.33 Mbps (37.)

Environment and Sustainability

Madagascar
Norway
Renewable energy
29.2% (2025)
98.4% (2025)
Carbon emissions per capita
4 kg per capita (2025)
44 kg per capita (2025)
Forest area
21.3% (2025)
33.5% (2025)
Freshwater resources
337 km³ (2025)
393 km³ (2025)
Air quality
12.38 µg/m³ PM2.5 (2025)
5.61 µg/m³ PM2.5 (2025)

Military Power

Madagascar
Norway
Military expenditure
$131.3M (2025)
$12.1B (2025)
Military power rank
673 (126.)
19,773 (34.)

Governance and Politics

Madagascar
Norway
Democracy index
5.33 (2024)
9.81 (2024)
Corruption perception
26 (144.)
83 (8.)
Political stability
-0.7 (136.)
0.8 (56.)
Press freedom
55 (78.)
92.4 (1.)

Infrastructure and Services

Madagascar
Norway
Clean water access
53.4% (2025)
100.0% (2025)
Electricity access
41.6% (2025)
100.0% (2025)
Electricity price
0.13 $/kWh (2025)
0.16 $/kWh (2025)
Paved Roads
No data
80 % (2025)
Traffic deaths (per 100K)
30.7 /100K (2025)
1.63 /100K (2025)
Retirement age
60 (2025)
67 (2025)

Tourism and International Relations

Madagascar
Norway
Passport power
40.7 (2025)
90.75 (2025)
Tourist arrivals
87.1K (2020)
5M (2022)
Tourism revenue
$200M (2025)
$9.4B (2025)
World heritage sites
3 (2025)
8 (2025)

Comparison Result

Madagascar
Madagascar Flag
9.0

Superior Fields

Leader
Norway
Norway
Norway Flag
31.0

Superior Fields

* This score reflects overall livability and quality of life, not just economic or military strength

GDP Comparison

Total GDP

$18.7B (2025)
Madagascar
vs
$504.3B (2025)
Norway
Difference: %2595

GDP per Capita

$595 (2025)
Madagascar
vs
$89,690 (2025)
Norway
Difference: %14974

Comparison Evaluation

Madagascar Flag

Madagascar Evaluation

While Madagascar ranks lower overall compared to Norway, specific areas demonstrate competitive advantages:

Competitive areas for Madagascar: • Madagascar has 5.8x higher population • Madagascar has 3.6x higher population density • Madagascar has 3.0x higher birth rate • Madagascar has 81% higher land area
Norway Flag

Norway Evaluation

Significant advantages for Norway: • Norway has 150.7x higher GDP per capita • Norway has 27.0x higher GDP • Norway has 543.3x higher healthcare spending per capita • Norway has 3.2x higher corruption perception index

Overall Evaluation

Final Conclusion

Norway vs. Madagascar: The Precision Engine vs. The Living Ark

A Contrast Between Nordic Order and Unique Biodiversity

Pitting Norway against Madagascar is like comparing a state-of-the-art spacecraft, engineered for perfect performance, with a lost world, a biological treasure chest floating in the Indian Ocean. Norway represents the peak of human social and economic engineering. Madagascar is a testament to the wild, unpredictable, and unique beauty of natural evolution.

The Starkest Contrasts

  • Evolutionary Path: Norway has evolved into a highly advanced, homogenous, and wealthy society. Madagascar, having split from the African continent millions of years ago, has evolved in isolation, resulting in flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth.
  • Economic Landscape: Norway's economy is a high-tech, oil-fueled powerhouse, characterized by global investments and high wages. Madagascar's economy is largely agricultural, with vanilla, coffee, and tourism as key pillars, and it remains one of the world's least developed nations.
  • Environment: Norway is a land of cold, deep fjords and pristine, managed forests under the Northern Lights. Madagascar is a land of lush rainforests, spiny deserts, and unique baobab avenues under a tropical sun.
  • Infrastructure: Norway boasts flawless infrastructure—impeccable roads, universal high-speed internet, and efficient public services. Madagascar's infrastructure is a major challenge, with many regions accessible only through rough terrain, making travel an adventure in itself.

The Quality vs. Quantity Paradox

Norway offers an unmatched quality of life, measured in safety, income, and social services. It is the epitome of a well-oiled machine. Madagascar offers a "quantity" of uniqueness. It has more endemic species than any other country its size, a rich tapestry of Malagasy cultures, and landscapes that feel otherworldly. The quality of life metrics are low, but the quality of its natural wonders is priceless.

Practical Advice

If You Want to Start a Business:

  • Norway is for you if: You're in renewable energy, fintech, maritime technology, or any field that requires high stability and a top-tier educated workforce.
  • Madagascar is for you if: You're in ecotourism, sustainable agriculture (especially vanilla or cacao), conservation projects, or small-scale mining. Patience and adaptability are essential.

If You Want to Settle Down:

  • Norway is your choice for: A safe, predictable, and prosperous life focused on family, nature, and work-life balance. It’s for those who desire comfort and order.
  • Madagascar is your choice for: A life off the beaten path. It's for conservationists, researchers, and adventurers who are willing to trade modern conveniences for an experience of a lifetime in a truly unique culture and environment.

The Tourist Experience

  • Norway offers: A majestic, comfortable journey through dramatic landscapes. Think fjord cruises, scenic train rides, and chasing the aurora in a heated glass igloo.
  • Madagascar offers: A true expedition. Searching for lemurs in the wild, exploring the Tsingy de Bemaraha's limestone karsts, and navigating rugged roads to discover remote beaches. It is raw, challenging, and unforgettable.

Conclusion: Which World Do You Choose?

The choice is between a perfectly designed future and a land that time forgot. Norway is the world man perfected; Madagascar is the world nature perfected in its own strange and beautiful way. Do you want to live in a flawless system or explore a living museum?

🏆 The Final Verdict

Winner: For human development, economic opportunity, and quality of life, Norway wins by a colossal margin. For biodiversity, raw adventure, and uniqueness, Madagascar is in a league of its own.

Practical Decision: If you seek security and a high standard of living, Norway is the answer. If your soul craves true exploration and you want to see a world untouched by global homogeneity, Madagascar is the destination.

💡 The Surprise Fact

Over 90% of Madagascar's wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. In contrast, Norway's greatest "unique" asset isn't its wildlife, but its social-economic model and its trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund, a man-made wonder of financial planning.

Other Country Comparisons

Data Disclaimer: Projected data (future years) are estimates based on mathematical models. Actual values may differ. Learn about our methodology →

Data Sources

Comparison data is aggregated from multiple authoritative international organizations:

World Bank Open Data - Development and economic indicators
UN Data - Population and demographic statistics
IMF Data Portal - International financial statistics
WHO Data - Global health statistics
OECD Statistics - Economic and social data
Our Methodology - Learn how we process and analyze data

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