EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Chad vs Madagascar
Side-by-side comparison of Chad 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
Chad scores 23.1 in the NationsTree Index (181st in the world) and Madagascar scores 19.7 (189th), a gap of 3.4 points. Their trees are 4.0 m and 4.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Madagascar has 56% more people than Chad. Chad is 2.2 times larger than Madagascar by land area. Chad and Madagascar have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Chad 21.0 million and Madagascar 32.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $2,903 in Chad and $1,952 in Madagascar (2025, international dollars). People in Madagascar live on average 8.6 years longer (63.8 vs 55.2 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Chad ranks higher in the world on 12 and Madagascar on 20. Chad is clearly stronger in military and economy. Madagascar is clearly stronger in tourism, environment & energy and trade.
Over the last five years Chad improved faster (direction score 74 vs 14 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Chad and Madagascar.
Chadbetter
-3.9%
4th of 180
Madagascar
8.1%
151st of 180
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Chad
43.0
183rd of 200
Madagascarbetter
12.4
62nd of 200
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Chad
813
137th of 183
Madagascarbetter
11,072
42nd of 183
GDP growthEconomy
Chadbetter
5.6%
43rd of 210
Madagascar
3.0%
115th of 210
Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI)Infrastructure & digital
Chadbetter
2.37
115th of 164
Madagascar
1.80
161st of 164
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Chad overtook Madagascar in the NationsTree Index in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Chad overtook Madagascar in GDP per person (PPP) in 2002 and has stayed ahead since.
Madagascar has been ahead of Chad in GDP (PPP), life expectancy and 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
ChadMadagascar 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 | Chad | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,284,00020th/216 · 2024 | 591,89648th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,259,20021st/216 · 2024 | 581,80044th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 21.0 m63rd/217 · 2025 | 32.7 m49th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 3.41%6th/217 · 2025 | 2.40%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 16.1197th/216 · 2024 | 54.9150th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 27.6%200th/217 · 2025 | 32.9%188th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 46.0%4th/217 · 2025 | 38.9%29th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.1%214th/217 · 2025 | 3.5%180th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $21.47 bn131st/210 · 2025 | $19.62 bn135th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $60.97 bn126th/199 · 2025 | $63.93 bn123rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $52.10 bn126th/199 · 2025 | $54.63 bn122nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,022197th/210 · 2025 | $599207th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $2,903187th/199 · 2025 | $1,952193rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $970187th/201 · 2025 | $560198th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.6%43rd/210 · 2025 | 3.0%115th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | -3.9%4th/180 · 2025 | 8.1%151st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 1.1%6th/187 · 2025 | 3.0%42nd/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 33.3%41st/189 · 2025 | 47.7%81st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.3%42nd/192 · 2025 | -2.1%79th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 36.3%5th/197 · 2025 | 21.7%31st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 26.7%72nd/200 · 2025 | 23.9%99th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 6.3%139th/192 · 2024 | 13.1%63rd/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 33.9%196th/200 · 2025 | 48.8%151st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $6.32 bn124th/182 · 2025 | $4.19 bn136th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $3.59 bn148th/182 · 2025 | $6.46 bn133rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 29.4%115th/183 · 2025 | 21.3%142nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 16.7%175th/183 · 2025 | 32.9%122nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 46.1%152nd/183 · 2025 | 54.2%136th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | — | 2.6%92nd/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | — | 32.3%88th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | — | 30.5%48th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | — | 32.9%15th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | — | 1.0%148th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.6%84th/191 · 2025 | -6.0%150th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.0%176th/196 · 2025 | 4.5%45th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 21.3%22nd/209 · 2021 | 5.5%67th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 16.75%11th/197 · 2021 | 0.08%76th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.01%78th/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 | 4.58%16th/209 · 2021 | 5.45%13th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 4.2%142nd/206 · 2024 | 5.2%136th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 813137th/183 · 2022 | 11,07242nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 10,400189th/194 · 2020 | 87,100167th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $25.0 m2002 | $202.0 m125th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | — | 7.8%69th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 5,500107th/107 · 2020 | 39,0001995 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 55.2216th/217 · 2024 | 63.8196th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 97.3193rd/196 · 2024 | 62.4178th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.09167th/174 · 2023 | 0.17152nd/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.2145th/145 · 2020 | 0.32014 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 68%173rd/193 · 2024 | 60%184th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 8.8%2019 | 18.4%142nd/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 23.5%170th/173 · 2024 | 34.1%167th/173 · 2021 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 11.3%49th/55 · 2022 | 5.7%2010 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 4.1%211th/217 · 2025 | 6.0%179th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.0%126th/193 · 2023 | 3.4%170th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 30.6%2019 | 74.7%74th/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 4.4%2020 | 6.1%146th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.416190th/193 · 2023 | 0.487183rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 37.472nd/108 · 2022 | 36.871st/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 39.5%98th/108 · 2022 | 69.2%105th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 13.4%214th/215 · 2024 | 42.5%204th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 6.3%149th/150 · 2024 | 22.1%136th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 11.1%139th/144 · 2024 | 12.8%137th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 12.6%184th/186 · 2024 | 18.7%179th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 73174th/210 · 2024 | 75171st/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0208th/208 · 2024 | 0.1192nd/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.37115th/164 · 2018 | 1.80161st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 67373rd/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 28,3322014 | 313,313126th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.1415th/203 · 2024 | 0.1516th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 70.0%29th/212 · 2022 | 83.1%9th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 43.0183rd/200 · 2023 | 12.462nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 3.0%186th/214 · 2024 | 17.3%140th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 171147th/149 · 2024 | 302143rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 30.8181st/205 · 2025 | 34.5174th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 21.0191st/207 · 2025 | 27.1171st/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 35.4189th/207 · 2025 | 43.1160th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 38.0187th/207 · 2025 | 56.4155th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 36.5180th/205 · 2025 | 41.2167th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 31.0180th/205 · 2025 | 45.8134th/205 · 2025 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $648.8 m93rd/156 · 2025 | $119.7 m136th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.2%26th/156 · 2025 | 0.6%137th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 15.5%15th/154 · 2025 | 3.8%114th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 45,00075th/170 · 2020 | 22,000100th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.85%83rd/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 | 0.23%2016 | 0.01%2017 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 3118th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 52152nd/197 · 2023 | 153133rd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Chad or Madagascar?
Madagascar has the larger population: 32.7 m (2025) compared with 21.0 m for Chad (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Chad or Madagascar?
Chad is larger: 1,284,000 km² (2024) compared with 591,896 km² for Madagascar (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Chad or Madagascar?
Madagascar has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $63.93 bn intl. (2025) compared with $60.97 bn intl. for Chad (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Chad or Madagascar?
Chad has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $2,903 intl. (2025) compared with $1,952 intl. for Madagascar (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Chad or Madagascar?
Madagascar has the higher life expectancy at birth: 63.8 years (2024) compared with 55.2 years for Chad (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Chad or Madagascar?
Chad spends more on the military: $648.8 m (2025) compared with $119.7 m for Madagascar (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Chad or Madagascar?
Chad: 23.1 points (181st 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.
Benin
Gabon
Mozambique
Niger
Rwanda
Burkina Faso
GuineaSources
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). Chad vs Madagascar — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/chad-vs-madagascar. Data as of 26 October 2026.