| Official
Name : |
RÉPUBLIQUE DE MADAGASCAR (Republic of Madagascar) |
| Total
Area: |
587,041 square kilometres. |
| Population: |
22 million (2011 estimate). |
| Languages: |
French and Malagasy (both official). |
| Religions: |
Traditional beliefs 50%, Christian 40%, Muslim 8%. |
| Capital: |
Antananarivo. Population 1,900,000 (2009) |
| Currency: |
Malagasy franc, divided into 100 centimes. |
| Independant: |
October 1958 as the Malagasy Republic, from France. |
| Geography: |
Separated from the southeastern African mainland by the 400km wide Mozambique Channel, Madagascar is the worlds 4th largest island. To the west, low plateaus drop slowly to a broad coastal plain of sparse deciduous trees. Running through the centre of the island for most of its length is the highlands of the Haut Plateaux. To the east, the Haut Plateaux ends in a series of abrupt escarpments that plunge down through rainforested hills to a narrow coastal plain. Most of the island was until recently, extensively forested. |
| Flag: |
The flag of Madagascar was adopted on 14 October 1958, two years before the independence of that nation, as Madagascar prepared for a referendum on its status in the French Community.
To print flag below, right-click and select "open image in new window", then print in landscape mode. Flag ratio is 2:3. |
