1. Geography
Area: 587,041 sq.km.; the world’s fourth largest island – 1,600 km long in the Indian Ocean 600 km off the coast of Mozambique in Africa.
Population: 15,941,727 in 2000; 20,691,738 in 2010; 28,963,663 in 2025
Capital: Antananarivo (1,425,000)
2. Peoples
Malagasy: 98,6%
Other: 1.4%
Literacy: 46%
3. Economy
Subsistence agricultural economy, yet not producing enough rice to feed all. Slash-and-burn farming has destroyed vast areas of forest and caused bad erosion. Poor communications hinder development. Centralized socialist experiments proved a costly failure. Malaria and malnutrition have become major problems because of the economic slump. A slow economic recovery is under way. Eco-tourism has great potential – if the country’s rich bio-diversity is not destroyed.
4. Politics
The highland Merina people gained control of the whole island in the 19th Century – a fact still resented by the lowlander peoples. Annexed by France in 1896; independent in 1960. A coup in 1972 led to experimentation with Marxism which was a disaster for the country. Popular protest and demands for change were violently suppressed before constitutional change was conceded. Multi-party elections in 1993 gave overwhelming victory to the democratic opposition. Corruption and lack of progress led to a change of government three years later. The former president was returned to power having dispensed with Marxism, but with minimal popular support. Presidential elections were due in 2001.
5. Religions
Christian: 7,593,045 adherents (47.63% of population)
Traditional ethnic: 7,137,111 adherents (44.77% of population)
Muslim: 1,115,921 adherents (7.00% of population)
Non-religious/other: 65,361 adherents (0.41% of population)
Baha’i: 19,130 adherents (0.12% of population)
Chinese/Buddhist: 11,159 adherents (0.07% of population)
Churches: Catholic (1,750,000 members)
Ch of Jesus Christ (1,200,000 members)
Lutheran (375,000 members)
Episcopal (100,719 members)
Ev Indigenous Mission (52,500 members)
FTM (50,000 members)
Seventh-day Adventist (53,871 members)
Pente Ch Jesus Saves (29,279 members)
United Pentecostal (27,000 members)
Jehovah’s Witnesses (10,441 members)
Free Evangelical (14,865 members)
Assemblies of God (10,000 members)
Bible Baptist (1,652 members)
Other denominations (157,500 members)
Last month, the Government of Madagascar appealed to the United Nations and the diplomatic community for international solidarity and assistance in addressing the humanitarian situation caused by the devastating cyclones.
The British Foreign Office says that most visits to Madagascar are trouble-free.
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