**Madagascar**
The name “Madagascar” has a fascinating history that dates back to the 13th century. It was first popularized by the Venetian explorer Marco Polo, who mistakenly referred to the island as “Madageiscar” in his writings. This misnomer was likely a result of a mix-up with Mogadishu, a prominent city in Somalia. Over the centuries, the name evolved into the Madagascar we know today, representing the world’s fourth-largest island, renowned for its unique flora and fauna.
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Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country in the Indian Ocean that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's fourth-largest island, the second-largest island country, and the 46th-largest country overall. Its capital and largest city is Antananarivo.
Republic of Madagascar | |
|---|---|
Motto:
| |
| Anthem: Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô ! (Malagasy) Ô Terre de nos ancêtres bien-aimés! (French) "Oh, land of our beloved ancestors!" | |
.svg) Location of Madagascar (dark green) | |
| Capital and largest city | Antananarivo 18°55′S 47°31′E / 18.917°S 47.517°E |
| Official languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2017) | |
| Demonym | Malagasy |
| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic under a transitional government |
| Michael Randrianirina | |
| Mamitiana Rajaonarison | |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Senate (suspended) | |
| National Assembly | |
| Formation | |
• Kingdom | c. 1540 |
| c. 1882 | |
| 6 August 1896 | |
• Republic proclaimed | 14 October 1958 |
| 26 June 1960 | |
| 21 December 1975 | |
| 30 December 1975 – 12 January 1992 | |
| 12 January 1992 – 11 December 2010 | |
| 17 November 2010 | |
| 11 December 2010 | |
| 25 September – 14 October 2025 | |
| 12–14 October 2025 | |
| Area | |
• Total | 592,796 km2 (228,880 sq mi) (46th) |
• Water | 5,501 km2 (2,124 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 0.9% |
| Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 31,964,956 (49th) |
• Density | 55/km2 (142.4/sq mi) (164th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2026 estimate |
• Total |  $68.110 billion (117th) |
• Per capita | $2,110 (182nd) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2026 estimate |
• Total | $21.090 billion (139th) |
• Per capita | $652 (188th) |
| Gini (2012) |  42.6medium inequality |
| HDI (2023) |  0.487low (183rd) |
| Currency | Ariary (MGA) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Calling code | +261 |
| ISO 3166 code | MG |
| Internet TLD | .mg |
Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from Africa during the Early Jurassic period, around 180 million years ago, and from the Indian subcontinent approximately 90 million years ago. This isolation allowed native plants and animals to evolve in relative seclusion. As a result, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, with over 90% of its wildlife being endemic. The island has a subtropical to tropical maritime climate.
Madagascar was first permanently settled during or before the mid-first millennium CE (roughly 500 to 700) by Austronesian peoples, presumably arriving on outrigger canoes from present-day Indonesia. These were joined around the ninth century by Bantu groups crossing the Mozambique Channel from East Africa. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. Consequently, there are 18 or more classified peoples of Madagascar, the most numerous being the Merina of the central highlands.
Until the late 18th century, the island of Madagascar was ruled by a fragmented assortment of shifting sociopolitical alliances. Beginning in the early 19th century, most of it was united and ruled as the Kingdom of Madagascar by a series of Merina nobles. The monarchy was ended in 1897 by France's annexation of Madagascar, from which the country gained independence in 1960. It has since undergone four major constitutional periods, termed republics, and has been governed as a constitutional democracy since 1992. Following a political crisis and military coup in 2009, Madagascar underwent a protracted transition towards its fourth and current republic, with constitutional governance being restored in January 2014. In 2025, a series of mass protests resulted in a military coup and the installation of Michael Randrianirina as president of an interim government.
Madagascar is a member of the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Malagasy and French are both official languages of the state. Christianity is the country's predominant religion, with a significant minority still practicing traditional faiths.
Madagascar is classified as a least-developed country by the UN. Ecotourism and agriculture, paired with greater investments in education, health and private enterprise, are key elements of its development strategy. Despite substantial economic growth since the early 2000s, income disparities have widened, and quality of life remains low for the majority of the population. As of 2021, 68.4% of the population was considered to be multidimensionally poor.