Madagascar

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COAT OF ARMS

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LOCATION MAP

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INFORMATION

Capital: Antananarivo

Government: Untiary Semi-Presidential Republic

Current President: Andry Rojoelina

Economy:

  • Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population.
  • Major exporter of apparel.

Population: 27,534,354 (July 2021 est.)

Land Size: 587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles)

Major 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 African Religions: 52%
  • Christian: 41%
  • Muslim: 7%

Language(s):

  • French (official)
  • Malagasy (official)
  • English

Links:

RECENT NEWS

  • Wed - Mar 27, 2024: We Built an AI Tool to Help Set Priorities for Conservation in Madagascar - What We Found - AllAfrica News: Madagascar
    [The Conversation Africa] Artificial Intelligence (AI) - models that process large and diverse datasets and make predictions from them - can have many uses in nature conservation, such as remote monitoring (like the use of camera traps to study animals or plants) or data analysis. Some of these are controversial because AI can be trained to be biased, but others are valuable research tools.
  • Tue - Mar 26, 2024: Amavubi Beat Madagascar in Antananarivo - AllAfrica News: Madagascar
    [New Times] The national football team (Amavubi) continued their impressive form under Torsten Spittler with an emphatic 2-0 win over Madagascar in a FIFA international friendly game in Antananarivo on Monday, March 25.
  • Thu - Mar 21, 2024: First Person - Water Key to Cultivating Financial Independence in Southern Madagascar - AllAfrica News: Madagascar
    [UN News] Women in one of the poorest parts of rural Madagascar are growing their financial independence from men by cultivating village land and selling their produce.
  • Mon - Mar 18, 2024: Madagascar Asks for Restitution of Sakalava King's Skull From France - AllAfrica News: Madagascar
    [RFI] Madagascar - Two of the great granddaughters of a Sakalava king in Madagascar, who was beheaded in 1897 by colonial troops, publicly addressed the French ambassador, asking him to speed up the restitution of their ancestor's skull.
  • Sat - Mar 16, 2024: Southern Madagascar, Where Girls Are Sold Into Marriage Before They Are Born - AllAfrica News: Madagascar
    [UN News] Efforts are being made in the south of Madagascar to end a traditional but illegal practice in which girls are promised as a wife to older men, sometimes even before they are born.