Madagascar is an island country located off the southeastern coast of Africa. It is the fourth largest island in the world and is known for its unique biodiversity, with many species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else on earth. The official languages are Malagasy and French, and the currency is the Malagasy ariary.

Madagascar has a rich history and cultural heritage, with influences from Africa, Asia, and Europe. The island was first settled by people from Southeast Asia around 2,000 years ago, and over the centuries it has been ruled by various kingdoms, including the Merina Kingdom in the 19th century. The island became a French colony in the late 19th century and gained independence in 1960.

Madagascar's economy is largely based on agriculture, with the majority of the population engaged in subsistence farming. The country is known for its production of vanilla, cloves, and other spices, as well as coffee and cocoa. Tourism is also a growing industry, with visitors drawn to the country's natural beauty and unique wildlife.

Madagascar's diverse ecosystems include rainforests, deserts, and coral reefs, and the country is home to many rare and endangered species, such as lemurs, fossas, and a variety of birds. The island also has a rich cultural heritage, with traditional music, dance, and art that reflect the country's history and cultural diversity.

Visitors to Madagascar can explore the country's many national parks and reserves, where they can observe wildlife and enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. Some of the most popular destinations include the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, home to many species of lemurs and other animals, and the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique rock formations.

Madagascar's capital city is Antananarivo, located in the central highlands of the island. The city has a rich cultural heritage, with many historic buildings and landmarks, as well as markets and museums that showcase the country's art and history. Other popular destinations in Madagascar include the beaches of Nosy Be and the islands of Sainte Marie and Île Sainte-Marie.

Telephone Code
261

Local Emergency Phone
Local numbers only

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers who have been in a yellow fever endemic country within 6 months of arrival, for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission, or for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Madagascar is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

Climate
Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Currency (Code)
Malagasy ariary (MGA)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E

Major Languages
French, Malagasy, English

Major Religions
Christian, indigenous, Muslim

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Ile Sainte Marie; Isalo National Park; Tsingy de Bemaraha; Avenue of the Baobabs; Royal Hill of Ambohimanga

Major Sports
Soccer, rugby, track and field, basketball, tennis

Cultural Practices
The left hand is considered unclean so try to avoid using it for gift giving or introductions.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping is expected for tour guides and drivers. Tip the guide the equivalent of 15,000-20,000 AR ($7-10 USD) per day and the driver 5,000-10,000 AR (about $5 USD) per day. Bellboys and housekeepers should receive about 2000 AR per bag or per day as a tip.

Souvenirs
Vanilla, baobab seeds, Batik/handwoven fabric and hand-beaded slippers; gold or silver hairpins, brooches, and other jewelry; pewter goods

Traditional Cuisine
Romazava — beef and green leaves stew

Geography
Area
total: 587,041 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,501 sq km

Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Natural resources
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

People and Society
Population
28,812,195 (2023 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

Languages
Malagasy (official) 99.9%, French (official) 23.6%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)

Religions
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.)

Population growth rate
2.22% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic

Capital
name: Antananarivo

Economy
Economic overview
low-income East African island economy; natural resource rich; extreme poverty; return of political stability has helped growth; sharp tax revenue drop due to COVID-19; leading vanilla producer; environmentally fragile

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$42.322 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$1,500 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
rice, sugar cane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, vegetables, bananas, mangoes/guavas, tropical fruit, potatoes

Industries
meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining

Exports
$3.341 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
United States 19%, France 18%, United Arab Emirates 7%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
vanilla, nickel, gold, clothing and apparel, gemstones (2019)

Imports
$4.768 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 24%, France 11%, United Arab Emirates 9%, India 7%, South Africa 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, rice, cars, packaged medicines, clothing and apparel (2019)