Madagascar

Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic, French: République malgache), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar.[citation needed] They include the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three bird families and six baobab species. Two thirds of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.


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, English1
Demonym
Malagasy[1]
Government
Caretaker government
-
President of the High Authority of Transition
Andry Rajoelina
-
Prime Minister
Monja Roindefo
Independence
from France
-
Date
26 June 1960
Area
-
Total
587,041 km2 (45th)226,597 sq mi
-
Water (%)
0.13%
Population
-
July 2008 estimate
20,042,551[2] (55th)
-
1993 census
12,238,914
-
Density
33/km2 (171st)86/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$19.722 billion[3]
-
Per capita
$975[3]
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$9.254 billion[3]
-
Per capita
$457[3]
Gini (2001)
47.5 (high)
HDI (2007)
▲ 0.533 (medium) (143rd)
Currency
Malagasy ariary (MGA)
Time zone
EAT (UTC+3)
-
Summer (DST)
not observed (UTC+3)
Drives on the
right
Internet TLD
.mg
Calling code
261