First Republic of Madagascar

Republic of Madagascar Repoblikan'i Madagasikara  (Malagasy) République de Madagascar  (French)
Flag Seal
Motto:  "Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana" (Malagasy) "Amour, Patrie, Progrès" (French) "Love, Land of Our Ancestors, Progress"
Anthem: Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô! Oh, Beloved Land of our Ancestors!
Location of  Madagascar  (dark blue) – in Africa  (light blue & dark grey) – in the African Union  (light blue)
Capital and largest city	Antananarivo 18°55′S 47°31′E / 18.917°S 47.517°E / -18.917; 47.517
Official languages	Malagasy French
Ethnic groups (2004)	26% Merina 15% Betsimisaraka 12% Betsileo 7% Tsimihety 6% Sakalava 5% Antaisaka 5% Antandroy 24% others
Demonym	Malagasy, Madagascan
Government	Unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic
• President	Hery Rajaonarimampianina
• Prime Minister	Olivier Solonandrasana
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Independence
• from France	26 June 1960
• Current constitution	17 November 2010
Area
• Total	587,041 km2 (226,658 sq mi) (47th)
• Water	5,501 km2 (2,124 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0.9%
Population
• 2016 estimate	24,430,325 (52nd)
• 1993 census	12,238,914
• Density	35.2/km2 (91.2/sq mi) (174th)
GDP (PPP)	2017 estimate
• Total	$40.055 billion
• Per capita	$1,563
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$10.372 billion
• Per capita	$405
Gini (2010)	44.1 medium
HDI (2015)	0.512 low · 158th
Currency	Malagasy ariary (MGA)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)
• Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+3)
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+261
ISO 3166 code	MG
Internet TLD	.mg

– in Africa  (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union  (light blue)

Madagascar (/ˌmædəˈɡæskər/; Malagasy: Madagasikara), officially the Republic of Madagascar (Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara [republiˈkʲan madaɡasˈkʲarə̥]; French: République de Madagascar), and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from the Indian peninsula around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population and other environmental threats.