Key Facts: Madagascar Wages
- Country
- Madagascar (MDG)
- Continent
- Africa
- Currency
- Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
- Minimum Wage
- Ar1,202 /hr ($0.27 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- Ar500,000 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- Ar6,000,000 /year
- Median Individual Income
- Ar1,200,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 40 hours
- Data Source
- Malagasy Ministry of Labour and Social Laws / ILO
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-25
Madagascar — Average Salary & Wages
Malagasy Ariary (MGA) Data verified Jan 2026 Sources
The average salary in Madagascar is
Ar6,000,000 a year
But half of all workers earn less than Ar1,200,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Madagascar is Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is Ar500,000 ($112.36 USD). The median monthly income is Ar100,000 ($22.47 USD).
Estimates. Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries (GNI per capita ~USD 510). Household income data from the Enquête Périodique auprès des Ménages (EPM). Most income is subsistence or near-subsistence.
Estimated average monthly earnings for formal sector employees, primarily in Antananarivo. EPZ garment workers typically earn close to the SMIG. Public sector wages are higher. The vast majority of Malagasy workers (subsistence agriculture, street trade) earn well below the formal minimum wage.
• SECTOR RATES
Non-agricultural (SMIG)
Ar250,000 /mo
Since 2024-01-01
Standard rate for formal non-agricultural employment
Agricultural (SMIA)
Ar180,000 /mo
Since 2024-01-01
Rate for agricultural workers
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2020, the minimum wage has grown +49% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Madagascar, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $0.92/hr in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Madagascar earns Ar250,000/mo. That is 50% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- Ar250,000 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 50% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $56.18/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +49% since 2020
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- Ar1,202
- Daily
- Ar9,615Monthly rate divided by 26 working days
- Monthly
- Ar250,000
- Annual
- Ar3,000,00012 monthly payments
Madagascar has both a non-agricultural SMIG and an agricultural SMIA (Salaire Minimum d'Intérêt Général Agricole). The non-agricultural rate shown is the primary reference. The garment and textile industry (major export sector) uses the non-agricultural SMIG as its floor. EPZ (Zone Franche) workers are formally covered by the SMIG but working conditions and exact pay are monitored separately. Madagascar's currency (Ariary, MGA) replaced the Malagasy Franc (MGF) at 5:1 in 2005.
Work Week
- Standard
- 40 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 48 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.3x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 2003-044) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 130% of normal rate (for the first 8 hours of overtime per week), then 160% (for subsequent hours), and 200% on Sundays and public holidays. Night work premium applies. EPZ workers may have different arrangements under zone-specific regulations.
How Madagascar Compares
| Metric | Madagascar | Africa Avg. | Africa Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $0.27/hr | $0.91/hr | $6.06/hr (Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $112.36/mo | $381.53/mo | $1,625/mo (Mauritania) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Ethiopia | $0.27 |
| Nigeria | $0.26 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | $0.31 |
| Uganda | $0.21 |
| Zambia | $0.33 |
| Madagascar | $0.27 |
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Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Madagascar on our sister site.
Cost of living in Madagascar on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Madagascar?
The minimum wage in Madagascar is Ar1,202/hr (approximately $0.27 USD), effective since 2024-01-01. Madagascar has both a non-agricultural SMIG and an agricultural SMIA (Salaire Minimum d'Intérêt Général Agricole). The non-agricultural rate shown is the primary reference. The garment and textile industry (major export sector) uses the non-agricultural SMIG as its floor. EPZ (Zone Franche) workers are formally covered by the SMIG but working conditions and exact pay are monitored separately. Madagascar's currency (Ariary, MGA) replaced the Malagasy Franc (MGF) at 5:1 in 2005.
What is the average salary in Madagascar?
The average gross monthly salary in Madagascar is Ar500,000 (approximately $112.36 USD). Estimated average monthly earnings for formal sector employees, primarily in Antananarivo. EPZ garment workers typically earn close to the SMIG. Public sector wages are higher. The vast majority of Malagasy workers (subsistence agriculture, street trade) earn well below the formal minimum wage. Source: INSTAT Madagascar / World Bank estimates (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Madagascar?
The standard work week in Madagascar is 40 hours, with a legal maximum of 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.3x the normal rate. Labour Code (Law No. 2003-044) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 130% of normal rate (for the first 8 hours of overtime per week), then 160% (for subsequent hours), and 200% on Sundays and public holidays. Night work premium applies. EPZ workers may have different arrangements under zone-specific regulations.
How has the minimum wage in Madagascar changed over time?
The minimum wage in Madagascar has changed as follows: Ar168,000 in 2020, Ar183,000 in 2021, Ar200,000 in 2022, Ar225,000 in 2023, Ar250,000 in 2024. This represents 5 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Madagascar in USD?
The minimum wage in Madagascar converts to approximately $0.27/hr in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in Madagascar in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Madagascar is approximately $112.36 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Madagascar's minimum wage compare to the Africa average?
Madagascar's minimum wage ranks #27 out of 33 countries with statutory minimum wages in Africa, placing it below the median for Africa.
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