 Republic of Madagascar: Facts and FiguresLocal Name Repoblikan'i
Madagasikara (Malagasy), Republique de Madagascar
(French)
Location about 240 mi
(386 km) off the southeastern coast of Africa
Area 226,658 sq mi
(587,041 sq km)
Greatest Distance N-S 980 mi (1,580 km)
Greatest Distance E-W 360 mi (579 km)
Coastline 2,600 mi (4,180 km)
Lowest Point sea level
Highest Point Maromokotro (2,876 m)
Natural Resources
graphite, chrome, coal, bauxite, ilmenite, nickel, gold,
oil, tar sands, uranium, precious and semi-precious
stones, hardwoods
Population (July 2011)
20.1 million
Nationality Malagasy
Largest Cities Antananarivo, Antsirabe,
Mahajanga, Toamasina
Ethnic Groups Malagasy, Comoran, French,
Indian, Chinese
Religions traditional, Christian, Muslim
Languages Malagasy (official), French
(official), English (official)
Capital Antananarivo
Form of Government Republic
Current Constitution Adopted March 1998
Chief of State President
Head of Government Prime Minister
Cabinet
Legislature bicameral Parliament
Judiciary Supreme Court, High Court of Justice,
Constitutional High Court
Local Administration 22 regions
Currency
Per Capita Income $438
Principal Industries processed food, clothing,
textiles, mining, paper, refined petroleum products,
glassware, construction, soap, cement, tanning
Agricultural Products rice, coffee, vanilla,
sugar, cloves, cotton, sisal, peanuts, tobacco; seafood
Principal Exports vanilla, coffee, cloves,
shrimp, graphite, essential oils, apparel, industrials
minerals and gemstones
Principal Imports foodstuffs, fuel and energy,
capital goods, vehicles, consumer goods and electronics
 Independence
Achieved June 26, 1960
FromFrance
National Holiday
Flag white vertical stripe representing purity,
with a red horizontal stripe for sovereignty over a green
horizontal stripe for hope
Questions or comments about this
page?
|
