Photo: Bernard Gagnon derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Madagascar: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Madagascar is placed joint 99th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 82.89 (2025); Labour Income Share 37.84 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint99th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Madagascar on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
82.89
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Madagascar: 82.89. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 82.89 Madagascar
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3.041
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Madagascar: 3.041. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 0.922 Burundi
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
84.42
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Madagascar: 84.42. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Eastern Africa
- 14.88 Mauritius
02Over time
Which way Madagascar is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
MadagascarWorld median
Madagascar rose from 81.31 in 2000 to 82.89 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Madagascar World median 2025 82.90 57.720 2024 82.87 57.694 2023 82.86 58.158 2022 82.73 57.688 2021 82.06 56.066 2020 81.80 55.691 2019 83.25 57.871 2018 83.53 56.911 2017 83.83 56.738 2016 84.16 56.845 2015 84.51 56.788 2014 84.97 56.774 2013 85.41 56.229 2012 85.84 56.289 2011 84.26 56.297 2010 82.79 56.212 2009 83.17 56.255 2008 83.58 57.308 2007 83.78 56.933 2006 83.98 56.685 2005 84.24 56.129 2004 83.10 55.465 2003 82.16 55.630 2002 81.71 55.843 2001 81.74 56.018 2000 81.31 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
MadagascarWorld median
Madagascar rose from 37.05 in 2004 to 37.84 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Madagascar World median 2025 37.835 46.230 2024 37.793 46.060 2023 37.820 45.900 2022 37.853 45.615 2021 37.053 45.433 2020 37.372 47.267 2019 37.806 46.277 2018 38.051 46.187 2017 37.950 46.467 2016 37.966 46.798 2015 38.139 46.876 2014 38.083 47.281 2013 38.244 46.887 2012 38.095 46.231 2011 38.356 45.679 2010 38.531 46.024 2009 39.196 47.071 2008 37.199 45.312 2007 37.275 45.246 2006 37.226 45.670 2005 37.237 46.265 2004 37.049 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
MadagascarWorld median
Madagascar fell from 5.8 in 2000 to 3.041 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Madagascar World median 2025 3.041 5.08 2024 3.051 5.15 2023 3.044 5.21 2022 3.186 5.34 2021 3.498 6.04 2020 3.292 6.38 2019 2.479 5.36 2018 2.303 5.35 2017 2.123 5.59 2016 1.949 5.90 2015 1.785 6.41 2014 1.385 6.58 2013 0.995 6.71 2012 0.599 6.79 2011 2.516 6.90 2010 4.280 7.04 2009 3.885 6.67 2008 3.431 5.79 2007 3.202 6.00 2006 2.945 6.50 2005 2.620 7.09 2004 3.951 6.80 2003 5.010 6.95 2002 5.515 6.91 2001 5.350 6.96 2000 5.800 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
MadagascarWorld median
Madagascar rose from 79.93 in 2000 to 84.42 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Madagascar World median 2025 84.415 28.67 2024 84.615 29.04 2023 84.791 29.33 2022 84.943 29.67 2021 85.075 30.01 2020 85.595 30.54 2019 84.938 29.98 2018 85.129 30.15 2017 85.284 29.93 2016 85.439 29.91 2015 85.568 30.26 2014 85.759 30.47 2013 85.953 31.14 2012 86.108 31.00 2011 86.154 31.41 2010 86.191 32.37 2009 85.320 32.59 2008 84.446 31.76 2007 83.745 33.47 2006 82.963 34.27 2005 82.168 34.66 2004 81.341 35.51 2003 80.455 35.90 2002 80.232 35.96 2001 79.945 35.27 2000 79.927 35.67
03In context
Madagascar beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Madagascar and Eastern Africa
Madagascar has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tanzania | =29th | 82.4 | 54.19 | 1.572 | 83.65 |
 Mozambique | 66th | 73.49 | 61.84 | 6.628 | 83.68 |
 Burundi | 71st | 77.53 | 38.41 | 0.922 | 83.66 |
 Uganda | =83rd | 77.83 | 37.57 | 2.746 | 74.39 |
| Madagascar | =99th | 82.89 | 37.84 | 3.041 | 84.42 |
 Zimbabwe | 102nd | 61.42 | 60.33 | 9.293 | 68.21 |
 Mauritius | 114th | 55.25 | 41.72 | 5.635 | 14.88 |
 Ethiopia | 116th | 66.19 | 38.52 | 3.323 | 84.15 |
 Eritrea | =117th | 73.66 | 35.89 | 5.978 | 47.89 |
 Comoros | 133rd | 53.64 | 42.33 | 3.819 | 56.84 |
 Kenya | 139th | 63.71 | 33.28 | 5.449 | 63.83 |
 Malawi | =140th | 59.4 | 37.07 | 5.072 | 59.91 |
 Rwanda | =158th | 56.45 | 39.77 | 11.36 | 39.36 |
 Zambia | 163rd | 58.27 | 25.93 | 5.918 | 70.17 |
 Djibouti | 173rd | 23.49 | 42.73 | 26.02 | 30.29 |
 Somalia | 180th | 27.43 | 37.55 | 18.95 | 45.97 |
 Seychelles | not placed | — | — | — | — |
| Somaliland | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 South Sudan | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Madagascar in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Madagascar is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median4
Statistics on which Madagascar does better than the middle country measured.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3682.9153.36No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 82.91 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 1st of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6685.561.66No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 85.5 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1637.3419.16No earlier reading
Madagascar: 37.34 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 13th of 179 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.835.24712.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Madagascar: 5.247 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 156th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Madagascar does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8145.9741.81No earlier reading
Madagascar: 45.97 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 77th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.612.061.61▼ Worsened since 2015
Madagascar: 2.06 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.687.22516.68No earlier reading
Madagascar: 7.225 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 120th of 139 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.96.245.9No earlier reading
Madagascar: 6.2 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0710.4632.07No earlier reading
Madagascar: 10.46 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,2303,67725,230No real change since 2010
Madagascar: 3,677 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 140th of 151 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.161.8422.16No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 1.84 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 178th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,742305.76,742No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 305.7 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 148th of 151 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,3843,29647,384No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 3,296 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 166th of 168 · derived.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7694.4436.76No earlier reading
Madagascar: 94.44 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 1st of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88586.024.885No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 86.02 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare3
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 333▲ Improved since 2015
Madagascar: 3 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Madagascar: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Madagascar: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8488.3231.84No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 88.32 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 4th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3869.2114.38No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 69.21 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 5th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8934.7638.89Moved since 2015
Madagascar: 34.76 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 138th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95210.27657.95Moved since 2014
Madagascar: 210.27 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.889.90318.88No real change since 2015
Madagascar: 9.903 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 162nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.012.54915.01No earlier reading
Madagascar: 2.549 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 131st of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5120.8959.51Moved since 2015
Madagascar: 20.89 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 177th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Madagascar
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2015), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2022), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2022), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2015), Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2015), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2022) and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2022). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Madagascar’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Madagascar’s 2nd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability43rd of 1864/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 99th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality100th of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 100th of 1774/4 keys
- Energyjoint 98th of 1653/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties144th of 1984/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge158th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technology164th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade149th of 1773/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions169th of 1944/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality142nd of 1593/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture168th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 182nd of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 186th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation171st of 1764/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 190th of 1934/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Madagascar can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysHighest in Eastern Africa
Tanzania=29th4/4 keysThis page
Madagascar=99th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Madagascar and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Madagascar on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Madagascar rank on work & labour?
Madagascar is placed joint 99th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Madagascar?
82.89 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Madagascar?
37.84 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Madagascar’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 81.31 in 2000 to 82.89 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 37.05 in 2004 to 37.84 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 5.8 in 2000 to 3.041 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment rose from 79.93 in 2000 to 84.42 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Madagascar?
No current reading is published for Madagascar on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Madagascar’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Madagascar (banner) — Bernard Gagnon derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Madagascar: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/madagascar/work