Madagascar
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Republic of Madagascar
Repoblikan'i Madagasikara République de Madagascar |
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| Motto: Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana (Malagasy) Amour, patrie, progrès (French) "Love, Fatherland, Progress"[1] |
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| Anthem: "Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!" Oh, Beloved Land of our Ancestors! |
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.svg) Location of Madagascar
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| Capital and largest city |
Antananarivo 18°55′S 47°31′E / 18.917°S 47.517°E |
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| Official languages | Malagasy, French | |||||
| Demonym | Malagasy[2] | |||||
| Government | Semi-presidential republic | |||||
| - | President | Hery Rajaonarimampianina | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Jean Ravelonarivo | ||||
| Independence from France | ||||||
| - | Date | June 26, 1960 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 587,041 km2 (47th) 226,597 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | 0.009% | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2011[3] estimate | 21,926,221 (53rd) | ||||
| - | 1993 census | 12,238,914 | ||||
| - | Density | 35.2/km2 (174th) 91.1/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $20.610 billion | ||||
| - | Per capita | $943 | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2010[4] estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $8.59 billion | ||||
| - | Per capita | $320 | ||||
| Gini (2001) | 47.5 high |
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| HDI (2010) |  0.435low · 135th |
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| Currency | Malagasy ariary (MGA) | |||||
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | not observed[5] (UTC+3) | ||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Calling code | +261[5] | |||||
| Internet TLD | .mg | |||||
Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean, off of the east coast of Africa. Twenty-two million people live there; its capital is Antananarivo. It is the world's fourth largest island.[6]
The official languages are Malagasy and French.
Geologists think that about two million years ago, Madagascar was a part of a big landmass that included what is now the continent of Africa, but it broke off. Madagascar would later break off of the Indian subcontinent.[7]
Contents
Environment[change | change source]
Madagascar is home to many species that were not known about until around 1679 when Dutch explorers went there. They do not even exist elsewhere in Africa. They only exist in Madagascar. In fact, most of the mammals living in Madagascar do not live anywhere else in the world.[8] However, many of the species in Madagascar are in danger because many of the forests have been cut down.[9] A big reason that forests have been cut down is so that land can be used to grow crops such as coffee, which is one of the most important crops that is grown in Madagascar.
Economy[change | change source]
Agriculture is a big part of the economy in Madagascar, including the growing of coffee and vanilla. Madagascar sells more vanilla than any other country in the world.[10] Madagascar also makes money from tourism.[11]
Provinces[change | change source]
In 2004 Madagascar was divided into 22 regions. It used to be divided into 6 provinces.[12]
| New regions | Former provinces | Population 2004 estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Diana (1), Sava (2) | Antsiranana | 1,291,100 |
| Itasy (3), Analamanga (4), Vakinankaratra (5), Bongolava (6) |
Antananarivo |
5,370,900 |
| Sofia (7), Boeny (8), Betsiboka (9), Melaky (10) | Mahajanga | 1,896,000 |
| Alaotra Mangoro (11), Atsinanana (12), Analanjirofo (13) | Toamasina | 2,855,600 |
| Amoron'i Mania (14), Haute-Matsiatra (15), Vatovavy-Fitovinany (16), Atsimo-Atsinanana (17), Ihorombe (18) |
Fianarantsoa | 3,730,200 |
| Menabe (19), Atsimo-Andrefana (20), Androy (21), Anosy (22) | Toliara | 2,430,100 |
History[change | change source]
People have probably lived in Madagascar for at least 2000 years.[14]
France took over the city of Antananarivo in 1895, and added Madagascar as a colony two years later.[15] Madagascar became independent from France, which meant it became its own country, on 26 June, 1960. On March 17, 2009, President Marc Ravalomanana quit because of pressure from the military. Andry Raejolina became the next president.[16]
Related pages[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Le Comité Consultatif Constitutionnel (October 1, 2010). "Projet de Constitution de la Quatrième République de Madagascar". Madagascar Tribune. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/61BvMnZmH. Retrieved August 24, 2011. (French)
- ↑ "Malagasy" is the correct form in English; Embassy of Madagascar, Washington D.C. "Madagascan" is used only for the island, not its people National Geographic Style Manual
- ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (2011). "Madagascar". The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
- ↑ The World Bank Group (December 2010). "Madagascar: Data Profile". World Development Indicators Database. The World Bank. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/61BwUGbye. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bradt (2011), p. 2
- ↑ "CIA - The World Factbook -- Madagascar". Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Giant palm tree puzzles botanists". news.bbc.co.uk. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7193161.stm. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ↑ "Dark history of Madagascar - Times Online". timesonline.co.uk. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5920772.ece. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Deforestation In Madagascar". www1.american.edu. http://www1.american.edu/ted/MADAGAS.HTM. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ↑ Saholiarisoa, Sanja. "Reuters AlertNet - Cyclones, politics to hurt Madagascar vanilla". alertnet.org. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LO644563.htm. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Economy of Madagascar". wildmadagascar.org. http://www.wildmadagascar.org/overview/economy.html. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ↑ Deschamps (1965), pp. 268, 274.
- ↑ Ralison, Eliane; Goossens, Frans (January 2006), "Madagascar: profile des marches pour les evaluations d'urgence de la securite alimentaire", in World Food Programme (in French), Strengthening Emergency Needs Assessment Capacity, Rome, Italy: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, p. 3, archived from the original on January 14, 2012, http://www.webcitation.org/64jbiYSCf, retrieved January 14, 2012
- ↑ "Dark history of Madagascar - Times Online". timesonline.co.uk. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5920772.ece. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ↑ "History of Madagascar - Lonely Planet Travel Information". lonelyplanet.com. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/madagascar/history. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Madagascar president Marc Ravalomanana resigns". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/17/madagascar-president-ravalomanana-resigns. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
Other websites[change | change source]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Madagascar |
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