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Benin vs Madagascar
Side-by-side comparison of Benin and Madagascar from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Madagascar
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
In short
Benin scores 26.7 in the NationsTree Index (170th in the world) and Madagascar scores 19.7 (189th), a gap of 7.0 points. Their trees are 4.4 m and 4.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Madagascar has 2.2 times the population of Benin. Madagascar is 5.2 times larger than Benin by land area. The economy of Benin is 12% larger than that of Madagascar (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Benin 14.8 million and Madagascar 32.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $4,817 in Benin and $1,952 in Madagascar (2025, international dollars). People in Madagascar live on average 2.9 years longer (63.8 vs 61.0 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Benin ranks higher in the world on 25 and Madagascar on 11. Benin is clearly stronger in science & innovation, institutions & safety and economy. Madagascar is clearly stronger in trade, environment & energy and main industries.
Over the last five years Benin improved faster (direction score 27 vs 14 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Benin and Madagascar.
Beninbetter
30.5%
14th of 168
Madagascar
1.0%
148th of 168
InflationEconomy
Beninbetter
1.1%
39th of 180
Madagascar
8.1%
151st of 180
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Benin
39.7
177th of 200
Madagascarbetter
12.4
62nd of 200
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Benin
749
144th of 183
Madagascarbetter
11,072
42nd of 183
GDP growthEconomy
Beninbetter
8.1%
11th of 210
Madagascar
3.0%
115th of 210
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Benin overtook Madagascar in GDP (PPP) in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Benin overtook Madagascar in the NationsTree Index in 2009 and has stayed ahead since.
Madagascar overtook Benin in life expectancy in 1997 and has stayed ahead since.
Benin has been ahead of Madagascar in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Madagascar has been ahead of Benin in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BeninMadagascar All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Benin | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 114,760102nd/216 · 2024 | 591,89648th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 112,760100th/216 · 2024 | 581,80044th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 14.8 m75th/217 · 2025 | 32.7 m49th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.40%27th/217 · 2025 | 2.40%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 128.387th/216 · 2024 | 54.9150th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 53.4%147th/217 · 2025 | 32.9%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 41.3%14th/217 · 2025 | 38.9%29th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.2%190th/217 · 2025 | 3.5%180th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $24.57 bn124th/210 · 2025 | $19.62 bn135th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $71.36 bn117th/199 · 2025 | $63.93 bn123rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $60.98 bn117th/199 · 2025 | $54.63 bn122nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,658179th/210 · 2025 | $599207th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $4,817168th/199 · 2025 | $1,952193rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,600171st/201 · 2025 | $560198th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 8.1%11th/210 · 2025 | 3.0%115th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.1%39th/180 · 2025 | 8.1%151st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 1.6%13th/187 · 2025 | 3.0%42nd/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 59.3%112th/189 · 2025 | 47.7%81st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.7%97th/192 · 2025 | -2.1%79th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 22.9%29th/197 · 2025 | 21.7%31st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 17.5%146th/200 · 2025 | 23.9%99th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 10.2%94th/192 · 2025 | 13.1%63rd/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 50.1%144th/200 · 2025 | 48.8%151st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $4.19 bn135th/182 · 2025 | $4.19 bn136th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $4.93 bn140th/182 · 2025 | $6.46 bn133rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 17.1%154th/183 · 2025 | 21.3%142nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 20.1%168th/183 · 2025 | 32.9%122nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 37.1%167th/183 · 2025 | 54.2%136th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%163rd/170 · 2024 | 2.6%92nd/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 7.4%139th/171 · 2024 | 32.3%88th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 39.7%41st/171 · 2024 | 30.5%48th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%164th/171 · 2024 | 32.9%15th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 30.5%14th/168 · 2024 | 1.0%148th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.7%146th/191 · 2025 | -6.0%150th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.0%103rd/196 · 2025 | 4.5%45th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.3%91st/209 · 2021 | 5.5%67th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.08%76th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.30%31st/209 · 2021 | 5.45%13th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 32.3%24th/206 · 2024 | 5.2%136th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 749144th/183 · 2022 | 11,07242nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 337,000139th/194 · 2019 | 87,100167th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $240.9 m116th/175 · 2019 | $202.0 m125th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 6.7%75th/168 · 2019 | 7.8%69th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 39,0001995 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 61.0209th/217 · 2024 | 63.8196th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 74.7185th/196 · 2024 | 62.4178th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.22142nd/174 · 2023 | 0.17152nd/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.4139th/145 · 2021 | 0.32014 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 63%180th/193 · 2024 | 60%184th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 12.3%149th/153 · 2022 | 18.4%142nd/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 43.6%163rd/173 · 2022 | 34.1%167th/173 · 2021 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 8.7%53rd/55 · 2021 | 5.7%2010 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.7%185th/217 · 2025 | 6.0%179th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.3%172nd/193 · 2023 | 3.4%170th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 51.4%92nd/98 · 2022 | 74.7%74th/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.2%139th/150 · 2022 | 6.1%146th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.515173rd/193 · 2023 | 0.487183rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 34.458th/108 · 2021 | 36.871st/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 27.2%93rd/108 · 2021 | 69.2%105th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 59.0%189th/215 · 2024 | 42.5%204th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 17.7%142nd/150 · 2024 | 22.1%136th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 16.4%133rd/144 · 2024 | 12.8%137th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 34.0%163rd/186 · 2024 | 18.7%179th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12673rd/210 · 2024 | 75171st/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.3185th/208 · 2024 | 0.1192nd/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.5085th/164 · 2022 | 1.80161st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 7582006 | 67373rd/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 8992016 | 313,313126th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.4940th/203 · 2024 | 0.1516th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 54.5%44th/212 · 2021 | 83.1%9th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 39.7177th/200 · 2023 | 12.462nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 28.1%114th/214 · 2024 | 17.3%140th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 430125th/149 · 2024 | 302143rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 48.9120th/205 · 2025 | 34.5174th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 43.8105th/207 · 2025 | 27.1171st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 51.1129th/207 · 2025 | 43.1160th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 58.6145th/207 · 2025 | 56.4155th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 50.4119th/205 · 2025 | 41.2167th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 51.5123rd/205 · 2025 | 45.8134th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.12017 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $216.9 m125th/156 · 2025 | $119.7 m136th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.9%122nd/156 · 2025 | 0.6%137th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.8%84th/154 · 2025 | 3.8%114th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 12,000124th/170 · 2020 | 22,000100th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.21%153rd/168 · 2020 | 0.15%156th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 4.0 m135th/163 · 2025 | 3.0 m141st/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.01%2017 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 3118th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 437106th/197 · 2023 | 153133rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Benin or Madagascar?
Madagascar has the larger population: 32.7 m (2025) compared with 14.8 m for Benin (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Benin or Madagascar?
Madagascar is larger: 591,896 km² (2024) compared with 114,760 km² for Benin (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Benin or Madagascar?
Benin has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $71.36 bn intl. (2025) compared with $63.93 bn intl. for Madagascar (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Benin or Madagascar?
Benin has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $4,817 intl. (2025) compared with $1,952 intl. for Madagascar (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Benin or Madagascar?
Madagascar has the higher life expectancy at birth: 63.8 years (2024) compared with 61.0 years for Benin (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Benin or Madagascar?
Benin spends more on the military: $216.9 m (2025) compared with $119.7 m for Madagascar (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Benin or Madagascar?
Benin: 26.7 points (170th in the world); Madagascar: 19.7 points (189th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
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World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Benin vs Madagascar — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/benin-vs-madagascar. Data as of 26 October 2026.