Madagascar Power Plugs, Wall Sockets & Electrical Outlets
In Madagascar, power plugs and sockets (electrical outlets) of Type C (CEE 7/16 (Europlug), two round pins, ungrounded) and Type E (CEE 7/5, two round pins plus hole for socket grounding pin, grounded) are used. Wall sockets run at 220V and 50Hz. Check if you need a travel adapter, electrical adapter or voltage converter before travelling to Madagascar.
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Madagascar uses:
Madagascar Electrical Outlets Explained
Madagascar power plug standards follow the common European-influenced system found across many former French territories in Africa. Electrical outlets in Madagascar are designed to accept both Type C and Type E plugs, giving travelers a fair amount of flexibility depending on the appliance being used. The Type C Europlug, with its two round 4mm pins, is ungrounded and best suited to small electronics, while the Type E plug, featuring two round 4.8mm pins and a socket-based grounding pin, is used for higher-powered or grounded appliances.
Voltage and Frequency in Madagascar
Madagascar operates on a 220V supply at 50Hz, matching the standard used throughout most of Europe and Africa. This means visitors from regions with 110-120V systems, such as North America, will need to pay close attention to whether their devices can handle the higher voltage before plugging them into a local electrical outlet.
Dual-Voltage Devices and Madagascar
Many modern electronics, including phone chargers, laptop power supplies, and camera battery chargers, are dual-voltage and built to accept anything between 100V and 240V at 50Hz or 60Hz. For these devices, only a simple travel adaptor is needed to physically match the Malagasy socket shape; no voltage converter is required. Always check the printed specifications on your charger or appliance before connecting it, since single-voltage devices rated only for 110-120V will need a separate voltage converter to operate safely in Madagascar.
What Plug Type Does Madagascar Use?
Madagascar uses two plug types: Type C and Type E. The Type C Europlug is a compact, ungrounded two-pin plug rated for up to 2.5A, ideal for low-power devices like phone chargers and small electronics but unsuitable for appliances such as kettles or hair dryers. The Type E plug is the French-standard grounded connector, rated at 16A, and relies on a grounding pin located in the wall socket rather than on the plug itself, providing reliable protection for higher-power household equipment.
- Type C (Europlug): two round 4mm pins, ungrounded, 2.5A, best for small electronics
- Type E: two round 4.8mm pins with socket-side grounding pin, grounded, 16A, suited to larger appliances
Frequently Asked Questions
If your home country uses Type C or Type E plugs, you won't need an adapter at all. Travelers from countries using other plug standards, such as Type A/B or Type G, will need a travel adaptor to fit Madagascar's Type C or Type E electrical outlets.
Madagascar uses a 220V supply at 50Hz. This matches the voltage standard used across most of Europe and Africa, so travelers from 110-120V regions should check their device compatibility before use.
Madagascar uses both Type C and Type E plugs. Type C is a two-pin ungrounded plug for low-power devices, while Type E is a grounded plug used for higher-power appliances.
Some are and some aren't. Type E sockets in Madagascar provide grounding through a protruding grounding pin in the socket itself, while Type C sockets are ungrounded and intended only for double-insulated, low-power devices.
