Wed, March 18, 2009
Country profile: Madagascar
Madagascar is the world's fourth biggest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo. Because of its isolation most of its mammals, half its birds, and most of its plants exist nowhere else on earth.
The island is heavily exposed to tropical cyclones which bring torrential rains and destructive floods, such as the ones in 2000 and 2004, which left thousands homeless.
Overview
The Malagasy are thought to be descendents of Africans and Indonesians who settled on the island more than 2,000 years ago. Malagasy pay a lot of attention to their dead and spend much effort on ancestral tombs, which are opened from time to time so the remains can be carried in procession, before being rewrapped in fresh shrouds.
AT-A-GLANCE
Politics: President Ravalomanana resigned in March 2009 following a fierce power struggle with opposition leader Andry Rajoelina. In January 2009 political unrest erupted into violence.
Economy: Many areas suffer food shortages. Madagascar is to benefit from a G8 pledge to write off debts of 18 poor countries. The president has set out a road map for economic recovery.
International: Plans by Rio Tinto to start coastal strip mining in the south-east have alarmed environmentalists.
Facts
Full name: Republic of Madagascar
Population: 20.2 million (via UN, 2008)
Capital: Antananarivo
Area: 587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles)
Major languages: Malagasy (official), French
Major religions: Indigenous beliefs, Christianity
Life expectancy: 58 years (men), 61 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: Ariary
Main exports: Vanilla, coffee, seafood, cloves, petroleum products, chromium, fabrics
GNI per capita: US $320 (World Bank, 2007)
Internet domain: .mg
International dialling code: +261
