Located in Southern Africa, Madgascar is an island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique. Nearly twice the size of Arizona, it is the world’s fourth-largest island. The weather is tropical along the coast, temperate inland, arid in south.
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule.
People & Economy
Population: 15.5 million.
Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian, Cotiers, French, Indian, Creole, Comoran.
Literacy: 80%
Religion: Indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Language: French (official), Malagasy (official)
Currency: Malagasy franc (FMG)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism.
Agriculture: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products.
