Country guide - Madagascar  

 
 

Introduction: Madagascar is an island located in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa. It is bound by the Mozambique Channel to the west and the Indian Ocean to the south, north and east.

Official Name: Republic of Madagascar (Repoblikan'i Madagasiraka)
Area: 587,040 Sq Km (226,660 Sq Miles)
Population: 16,979,000
Continent: Africa
Density per square mile: 75
Capital City: Antananarivo (Tana)
Religions: 47% follow local native tribal beliefs, 51% Christians, which are almost equally divided into Roman Catholics and Protestants. 2% Muslim.

Language: Malagasy and French
Government: Republic

Currency: Malagasy franc
GDP: $12.6 billion
GDP Per Head: $760

Natural Resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land Use: Arable Land 4%
Agriculture: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industry: Agriculture, Food Processing, Forestry, Mining, Oil Refining

Tourism: As well as the sandy beaches and great coral to explore, inland Madagascar has some impressive National Parks, with their forests and huge array of tropical wildlife.

Natural Hazards: Periodic cyclones and monsoons.
Health Risks: Malaria, bilharzia, hepatitis and diarrhoea.

Climate: Madagascar has a tropical maritime climate which is influenced by altitude, the monsoons and its proximity to the sea. In general, the highlands have a temperate climate with warm rainy weather from November to April and cooler temperatures from May to October. The average annual rainfall varies from 39 to 59 inches. The coastal region has a tropical climate with no completely dry season. The heaviest rainfall occurs on the coastal region between May and September with average annual rainfall varying from 80 to 120 inches. Average temperature ranges in Antananarivo are from 9 to 20 degrees Celsius in July to 16 to 27 degrees Celsius in December.

Time: GMT/UTC + 3 hours
National Days: June 26

Visas: Visas are required for entry to Madagascar. They may be obtained at the airport on arrival or the Malagasy Consulate. Malagasy law requires that visitors have a return air ticket. You will be asked for evidence of this at check-in in the UK and on arrival in Madagascar.

British Embassy Details

 

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