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Madagasgar

Republic of Madagascar
  • Repoblikan'i Madagasikara  (Malagasy)
  • République de Madagascar  (French)
Flag of Madagascar
Seal of Madagascar
Flag Seal
Motto: 
  • "Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana" (Malagasy)
  • "Amour, Patrie, Progrès" (French)
  • "Love, Fatherland, 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)
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
Ethnic groups (2004)
Demonym Malagasy, Madagascan
Government Unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic
• President
Hery Rajaonarimampianina
Olivier Solonandrasana
Legislature Parliament
Senate
National Assembly
Independence
• from France
26 June 1960
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) 2016 estimate
• Total
$37.491 billion
• Per capita
$1,504
GDP (nominal) 2016 estimate
• Total
$9.740 billion
• Per capita
$390
Gini (2010) 44.1
medium
HDI (2015) Increase 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 Southeast 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.


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Wikipedia

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