Madagascar: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

US warns Madagascar over growing military ties with Russia • Nov. 11, 2026, 2:30 AM ET (BBC)

Scam centres relocated from Cambodia operate in Madagascar • Oct. 31, 2026, 3:30 AM ET (Straits Times)

NASA Captures a Strange Formation on Earth With a Surprising Lunar Connection • Oct. 16, 2026, 7:11 PM ET (SciTechDaily)

Facts

Also Known As	Republic of Madagascar • Great Red Island • Repoblikan’i Madagasikara • Malagasy Republic • République de Madagascar • Isle of Saint Lawrence • Madagasikara
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Mamitiana Rajaonarison
Capital	Antananarivo
Population	(2026 est.) 32,659,000
Head Of State	President: Col. Michael Randrianirina
Form Of Government	transitional military government¹ with two legislative houses (Senate [18]²; National Assembly [163])
Official Languages	Malagasy; French³
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Repoblikan’i Madagasikara (Malagasy); République de Madagascar (French) (Republic of Madagascar)
Total Area (Sq Km)	591,896
Total Area (Sq Mi)	228,532
Monetary Unit	ariary (MGA)
Population Rank	(2026) 51
Population Projection 2030	33,417,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 142.9
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 55.2
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2018) 19.3% • Rural: (2018) 80.7%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 65.8 years • Female: (2021) 69.7 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 16,429
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 510
¹After a period of unrest, Col. Michael Randrianirina declared the military had taken power on October 14, 2025. The High Constitutional Court asked him to temporarily serve as president and organize new elections within 60 days, but a transitional administration that would govern for up to two years was established, and Randrianirina was inaugurated as president on October 17.²Senate elections scheduled for December 11, 2025, were canceled, and the Senate term expired on January 18, 2026. On January 19, the High Constitutional Court ruled that the National Assembly alone would exercise legislative power until a new Senate was in place.³Per the 2010 constitution.