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Basic Facts |
Country name |
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara former: Malagasy Republic |
Gevernment type | republic |
Capital |
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Flag description | two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side |
Currency | Madagascar ariary (MGA) |
Internet country code | .mg |
Ports and terminals | Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara |
Agriculture products | coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products |
Industries | meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism |
Geography |
Location | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique |
Coordinates | 20 00 S, 47 00 E |
Continent | Africa |
Area |
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km |
Boundaries | 0 km |
Coastline | 4,828 km |
Climate | tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south |
Terrain | narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center |
Natural resources | graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower |
Natural hazards | periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation |
People |
Population | 18,595,469 (July 2006 est.) |
Ethnic groups | Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran |
Religions | indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7% |
Languages | French (official), Malagasy (official) |