Madagascar
Africa Β· Capital: Antananarivo
How it is run: Madagascar is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Madagascar is home to 32.7 million people in Eastern Africa, where people speak French, Malagasy.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
32.7 million people
That is 0.4% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
587,041 kmΒ²
Bigger than Texas β a long road trip from one side to the other.
ποΈ How crowded
About 56 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
15th most people in Africa
21st largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
French, Malagasy
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Malagasy ariary (Ar)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
63.8 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$599
A lower-income country: money for schools, clinics and roads has to stretch a very long way.
π’ Living in cities
32.9% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
38.9% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+261
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.mg
π§ People here are called
Malagasy
π·οΈ Name at home
Madagascar Β· Madagasikara
Also written: Republic of Madagascar, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, RΓ©publique de Madagascar.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Madagascar has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Madagascar
French
Madagascar
Arabic
Ω Ψ―ΨΊΨ΄ΩΨ±
Chinese
马达ε ζ―ε
Japanese
γγγ¬γΉγ«γ«
Russian
ΠΠ°Π΄Π°Π³Π°ΡΠΊΠ°Ρ
Portuguese
MadagΓ‘scar
German
Madagaskar
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 7.3Γ as many people as Madagascar.
- Madagascar covers roughly 5,591 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Madagascar lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 16,370 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Madagascar is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Madagascar
ποΈ Capital
Antananarivo
π Region
Africa Β· Eastern Africa
π€ Country code
MG
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Madagascar π
π§ Where on the map
20.0Β° S, 47.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+3 β when it is noon in London it is about 15:00 in Antananarivo.
- π²π¬ is the flag of Madagascar. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is MG.
- Madagascar is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Madagascar is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Madagascar lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Madagascar sits in Eastern Africa, in the southern and eastern half of the globe.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Madagascar has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Madagascar can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Madagascar spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Madagascar?
Antananarivo
Which money do people spend in Madagascar?
Malagasy ariary (Ar)
How many countries share a land border with Madagascar?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Madagascar?
32.7 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.