Repoblikan'i Madagasikara République de Madagascar Republic of Madagascar
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Tanindrazana, Fahafahana, Fandrosoana  (Malagasy) Patrie, liberté, progrès  (French) "Fatherland, Liberty, Progress"
Anthem: Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô! Oh, Our Beloved Ancestral-land
Capital (and largest city)		Antananarivo 18°55′S, 47°31′E
Official languages		Malagasy, French, English1
Demonym		Malagasy[1]
Government		Republic
-	President	Marc Ravalomanana
-	Prime Minister	Charles Rabemananjara
Independence		from France
-	Date	26 June 1960
Area
-	Total	587,041 km² (45th) 226,597 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0.13%
Population
-	July 2007 estimate	19,448,815 [2] (55th)
-	1993 census	12,238,914
-	Density	33/km² (171st) 86/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$5 billion (123rd)
-	Per capita	$290 (169th)
Gini (2001)		47.5 (high)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.533 (medium) (143rd)
Currency		Malagasy ariary (MGA)
Time zone		EAT (UTC+3)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+3)
Internet TLD		.mg
Calling code		+261
1Official languages since 27 April 2007

Madagascar (Mad-a-gas-car), or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. Endemic species include the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three bird families and six baobab species. Madagascar Madagascar (island) is an island in the Indian Ocean poooop, off the eastern coast of southern Africa, east of Mozambique. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Madagascar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of Madagascar was adopted on October 14, 1958, two years before independence, as Madagascar prepared for a referendum on its status in the French Community. ... The coat of arms of Madagascar includes an outline map of the island at the center (together with two smaller islands nearby), and below it the head of a Zebu. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Image File history File links LocationMadagascar. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Madagascars population is predominantly of mixed Asian and African origin. ... Nickname: Location of Antananarivo (red dot) in Madagascar Country Founded 1625 Population (1,403,449 (2001 census))  - Total 1,403,449 Antananarivo (pronounced or ) is the capital of Madagascar. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This page contains a list of presidents of Madagascar. ... Marc Ravalomanana (born December 12, 1949 in Imerinkasinina) is a Malagasy politician. ... List of the Heads of Government of Madagascar Notes Under house arrest from 27 May 2002. ... Charles Rabemananjara (born June 9, 1947[1]) is the current prime minister of Madagascar. ... is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... Graphical representation of the Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth distribution. ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... The Malagasy ariary (currency code MGA) is the currency of Madagascar. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Africa: Striped colours indicate countries observing daylight saving East Africa Time, or EAT, is a time zone used in eastern Africa. ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .mg is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Madagascar. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... An island nation is a country that is wholly confined to an island or islands. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Islands by area. ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... Endemic, in a broad sense, can mean belonging or native to, characteristic of, or prevalent in a particular geography, race, field, area, or environment; Native to an area or scope. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... Superfamilies and Families Cheirogaleoidea Cheirogaleidae Lemuroidea Lemuridae Lepilemuridae Indriidae Lemurs make up the infraorder Lemuriformes and are members of a group of primates known as prosimians. ... Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Families 15, See classification A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the latter category including humans. ... Binomial name Bennett, 1833 The Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) (pronounced FOO-sa[2][3] or Fah-suh) is a mammal endemic to Madagascar. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... Species See text The baobab (Adansonia), or monkey bread tree are a genus of eight species of trees, native to Madagascar (the centre of diversity, with six species), and mainland Africa and Australia (one species in each). ...

History

Main article: History of Madagascar

Madagascar, as part of East Gondwana, split from Africa approximately 160 million years ago; the island of Madagascar was created when it separated from India 80 to 100 million years ago. ^[3] Archaeologists estimate that humans arrived on Madagascar between 200 and 500 A.D., when seafarers from southeast Asia (probably from Borneo or the southern Celebes) arrived in outrigger sailing canoes.^[4] Bantu settlers probably crossed the Mozambique Channel to Madagascar at about the same time as or shortly afterwards. The written history of Madagascar began in the seventh century A.D., when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast. ... For other uses of Gondwana and Gondwanaland, see Gondwana (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see number 200. ... This article is about the year. ... Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. ... Map of Sulawesi pictures by Julianto Halim Sulawesi (or Celebes) is a large Indonesian island. ... In a canoe or bangca, an outrigger is a thin, long, solid, hull used to stabilise an inherently unstable main hull. ... This article is about the boat. ... Map showing the approximate distribution of Bantu (light brown) vs. ... Location of Mozambique Channel The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean between the island of Madagascar and southeast Africa, namely Mozambique. ...

The written history of Madagascar begins in the 7th century, when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast and first transcribed the Malagasy language into Sorabe. The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... Malagasy redirects here. ... Sorabe, or Sora-be, is an alphabet based on Arabic used to transcribe the Malagasy language and the Antemoro dialect in particular. ...

Antananarivo, Madagascar

During the Middle Ages, the chiefs of the different settlements began to extend their power through trade with Indian Ocean neighbors, notably East Africa, the Middle East and India. Large chiefdoms began to dominate considerable areas of the island. Among these were the Sakalava chiefdoms of the Menabe, centred in what is now the town of Morondava, and of Boina, centred in what is now the provincial capital of Mahajanga (Majunga). The influence of the Sakalava extended across what is now the provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toliara. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 750 KB) Uploaded on May 18, 2005 by robin. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 750 KB) Uploaded on May 18, 2005 by robin. ... Nickname: Location of Antananarivo (red dot) in Madagascar Country Founded 1625 Population (1,403,449 (2001 census))  - Total 1,403,449 Antananarivo (pronounced or ) is the capital of Madagascar. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... A chiefdom is any community led by an individual known as a chief. ... Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ... Menabe is a region in Western Madagascar. ... Morondava is a city located in the province of Toliara and the Region of Menabe, of which it is the capital, in Madagascar. ... Boina can mean a number of things. ... Mahajanga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Mahajanga or Majunga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ... Antsiranana, named Diégo-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar, in Antsiranana province. ... Mahajanga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Toliara (also known as Toliary; formerly Tuléar) is a city in Madagascar. ...

European contact began in the year 1500, when Portuguese sea captain Diogo Dias sighted the island after his ship separated from a fleet going to India.^[5] The Portuguese continued trading with the islanders and named the island as "Sāo Lourenço" (St. Lawrence). In 1665, Francois Caron, the Director General of the newly formed French East India Company, sailed to Madagascar.^{[citation needed]} The Company failed to establish a colony on Madagascar but established ports on the nearby islands of Bourbon and Ile-de-France (today's Reunion and Mauritius). In the late 17th century, the French established trading posts along the east coast. Diogo Dias was a 15th century Portuguese explorer. ... A map of Japan in François Carons A True Description of the Mighty Kingdoms of Japan and Siam. François Caron (1600-1673), was a French Huguenot refugee to the Netherlands who entered the Dutch East India Company, and becomes the first French person to set foot in... French and other European settlements in India. ... This article is about a type of political territory. ...

From about 1774 to 1824, Madagascar was a favourite haunt for pirates, including Americans, one of whom brought Malagasy rice to South Carolina. Many European sailors were shipwrecked on the coasts of the island, among them Robert Drury whose journal is one of the only written depictions of life in southern Madagascar during the 18th century.^[6] Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The following is a list of varieties of rice. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... Robert Drury (born 1687; died between 1743 and 1750) was an English sailor on the Degrave who was shipwrecked at the age of 17 on the island of Madagascar. ...

Beginning in the 1790s, Merina rulers succeeded in establishing hegemony over most of the island, including the coast. In 1817, the Merina ruler and the British governor of Mauritius concluded a treaty abolishing the slave trade, which had been important in Madagascar's economy. In return, the island received British military and financial assistance. British influence remained strong for several decades, during which the Merina court was converted to Presbyterianism, Congregationalism and Anglicanism. The Merina is the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. ... Look up hegemony in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The first two pages of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, in (left to right) German, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Ottoman Turkish and Russian A treaty is an agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely states and international organizations. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity. ... Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation indepedently and autonomously runs its own affairs. ... This box:      Anglicanism most commonly refers to the beliefs and practices of the Anglican Communion, a world-wide affiliation of Christian Churches, most of which have historical connections with the Church of England. ...

With the domination of the Indian Ocean by the Royal Navy and the end of the Arab slave trade, the western Sakalava lost their power to the emerging Merina state. The Betsimisaraka of the east coast also unified, but this union soon faltered. This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Islam and slavery. ... Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ... The Merina is the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. ...

French intervention and rule

Poster of a H. Galli book about the French war in Madagascar.

Landing of the 40th Bataillon de Chasseurs à pied in Majunga, between 5th and 24th May 1895.

An 1888 map of Madagascar

France invaded Madagascar in 1883 in what became known as the first Franco-Hova War seeking to restore property that had been confiscated from French citizens. (Hova is one of three Merina classes: andriana - aristocracy, hova - common people, andevo - slaves. The term hova was wrongly used by the French to mean Merina.) At the wars end, Madagascar ceded Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) on the northern coast to France and paid 560,000 gold stripers francs to the heirs of Joseph-François Lambert. In 1890 the British accepted the full formal imposition of a French protectorate. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 415 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (950 × 1373 pixel, file size: 405 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 415 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (950 × 1373 pixel, file size: 405 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 541 pixelsFull resolution (1372 × 928 pixel, file size: 286 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 541 pixelsFull resolution (1372 × 928 pixel, file size: 286 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Mahajanga or Majunga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (354x717, 107 KB) 1888 map of Madagascar File links The following pages link to this file: Madagascar ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (354x717, 107 KB) 1888 map of Madagascar File links The following pages link to this file: Madagascar ... Year 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... French poster about the Madagascar War The Franco-Hova War (also Franco-Malagasy War) consisted of French military interventions in Madagascar between 1883 and 1886 that overthrew the ruling monarchy of the Merina tribe, and resulted in Madagascar becoming a French colony. ... Antsiranana, named Diégo-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar, in Antsiranana province. ... This article is about states protected and/or dominated by a foreign power. ...

In 1895, a French flying column landed in Mahajanga (Majunga) and marched to the capital, Antananarivo, where the city's defenders were taken by surprise, as they were expecting an attack from the much closer east coast. Twenty French soldiers died fighting and 6,000 died of malaria and other diseases before the second Franco-Hova War ended. Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Mahajanga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Nickname: Location of Antananarivo (red dot) in Madagascar Country Founded 1625 Population (1,403,449 (2001 census))  - Total 1,403,449 Antananarivo (pronounced or ) is the capital of Madagascar. ... Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. ...

After the conclusion of hostilities, in 1896 the French Parliament voted to annex Madagascar. The 103-year-old Merina monarchy ended with the royal family being sent into exile in Algeria. In December 1904, the Russian Baltic Fleet docked at Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) for coal and provisions before sailing on to its doomed encounter with the Japanese fleet in the Battle of Tsushima. Before leaving port the Russian sailors were required to put ashore the animals they had acquired, including monkeys, boa constrictors and one crocodile. The Parlement of France is bicameral, and consists of the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) and the Senate (Sénat). ... Ceremonies during the annexation of Hawaii. ... Russian Baltic Fleet sleeve ensign The Baltic Fleet (Russian: Балтийский флот, in the Soviet period - The Double Red Banner Baltic Fleet - Дважды Краснознамённый Балтийский флот) is located at the Baltic Sea and headquartered in Kaliningrad, the other major base is at Kronstadt, located in the Gulf of Finland. ... Antsiranana, named Diégo-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar, in Antsiranana province. ... Combatants Empire of Japan Russian Empire Commanders Heihachiro Togo Zinovi Rozhdestvenski # Nikolai Nebogatov Strength 4 battleships 27 cruisers destroyers and auxiliary vessels 8 battleships 3 coastal battleships 8 cruisers Casualties 117 dead 583 injured 3 torpedo boats sunk 4,380 dead 5,917 captured 21 ships sunk 7 captured 6... Approximate worldwide distribution of monkeys. ... Binomial name Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758 The Red-tailed Boa (Boa constrictor), Jibóia (Latin American name) or Macajuel (pronounced Mah-cah-well) (Trinidadian name)[1] is a species of boa, and is known distinctively for the red coloration at the end of its tail. ... For other uses, see Crocodile (disambiguation). ...

During World War II, Malagasy troops fought in France, Morocco, and Syria. Just before the fall of France, Germany planned to forcibly deport all of Europe's Jews to Madagascar in what was known as the Madagascar Plan. But action on the plan was never begun. After France fell to Germany, the Vichy government administered Madagascar. During the Battle of Madagascar, British troops occupied the strategic island in 1942 to preclude its seizure by the Japanese, after which the Free French took over. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Madagascar Plan was a policy of the Third Reich government of Nazi Germany to forcibly relocate the entire Jewish population of Europe to the French island colony of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa. ... Vichy (Occitan: Vichèi) is a French commune, situated in the département of Allier and the région of Auvergne. ... Combatants  United Kingdom  Rhodesia British East African colonies South Africa  Australia (naval only) Vichy France Japan (naval only) Commanders Robert Sturges Armand Léon Annet Strength 10,000-15,000 (land forces) 8,000 (land forces)[1] Casualties 107 killed in action; 280 wounded;[2] 620 casualties in total (including... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres in French) were French fighters who decided to go on fighting against Germany after the Fall of France and German occupation and to fight against Vichy France in World War II. General Charles de Gaulle was a member of the French Cabinet in...

In 1947, with French prestige at low ebb, a nationalist uprising was suppressed after several months of bitter fighting with 90,000 people killed.^[7] The French later established reformed institutions in 1956 under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), and Madagascar moved peacefully towards independence. The Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on October 14, 1958, as an autonomous state within the French Community. A period of provisional government ended with the adoption of a constitution in 1959 and full independence on June 26, 1960. The Madagascar revolt was an attempted revolution against the French by nationalists on the island of Madagascar between 1947 and 1948. ... The Loi Cadre (1956 Overseas Reform Act) was a French legal reform passed by the French National Assembly on June 23, 1956. ... This article is about the country; for the movie see Madagascar (movie) Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... An autonomous (subnational) entity is a subnational entity that has a certain amount of autonomy. ... The French Community was the political entity which replaced the French Union, which in turn was the descendant of the French Empire following the Second World War. ...

Provinces and regions

Main articles: Provinces of Madagascar and Regions of Madagascar

Madagascar is divided into six autonomous provinces (faritany mizakatena), and 22 regions. The regions will be the highest subdivision level when the provinces are dissolved. Madagascar is divided into six autonomous provinces (faritany mizakatena): Antananarivo Province Antsiranana Province Fianarantsoa Province Mahajanga Province Toamasina Province Toliara Province The provinces will be dissolved as a result of the new regional subdivision and the constitutional referendum of 2007, but no time frame has been set. ... Madagascar is divided into 22 regions (faritra): Population, area: Madagascar: Profil des marchés pour les évaluations d’urgence de la sécurité alimentaire [1] Categories: | | ... Look up Region in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The regions are further subdivided into 116 districts, 1,548 communes, and 16,969 fokontany. Categories: Regions of Bulgaria | Bulgaria geography stubs ... Toamasina is a province of Madagascar with an area of 71,911 km2. ... Toliara (also Toliary) is a province of Madagascar with an area of 161,405 km². It has a population of 2,229,550 (July, 2001). ... Androy is a region in Madagascar. ... Menabe is a region in Western Madagascar. ...

The major cities have a special status as "commune urbaine", at the same level as the districts.

History

The years after independence 1960, Madagascar had a French-inspired division system.

During the second republic (1975-1991), Madagascar was divided into four levels of government:

1. Faritany (province)
2. Fivondronana (or fivondronampokontany)
3. Firaisana (or firaisampokontany)
4. Fokonolona (or fokontany)

Today there are five different levels of division:

1. Faritany mizakatena (autonomous province) (6)
2. Faritra (region) (22)
3. Fivondronana (district) (116)
4. Kaominina (commune) (1,548)
5. Fokontany (16,969)

The constitution of 1992 ruled that the country should be decentralized into territorial entities. The name, number, and limits of territorial entities should be determined by law. The law passed by the national assembly in 1994 defined three such entity levels: region (faritra), department (departemanta) and commune (kaominina). The communes were created in 1996. The existing provinces were not mentioned in the law. Autonomy is the condition of something that does not depend on anything else. ... A province is a territorial unit, almost always a country subdivision. ... Look up Region in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ... A commune is an administrative subdivision of various European and African countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Senegal, and the Scandinavian countries. ... Look up Region in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A department is a part of a larger organization with a specific responsibility. ... A commune is an administrative subdivision of various European and African countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Senegal, and the Scandinavian countries. ...

With former president Didier Ratsiraka back in power, the constitution was amended in 1998, to include and specifically mention six autonomous provinces, divided into undefined regions and communes. The autonomous provinces, having the same names and territories as the already existing provinces, were created in 2000. Elections for the six provincial councils were held on 3 December 2000, resulting in an AREMA majority in all provinces except Antananarivo. Didier Ratsiraka (born November 4, 1936) was the President of Madagascar from 1975 until 1993 and from 1997 until 2002. ...

During the power struggle after the presidential elections in 2001, five of those provinces, whose governors supported Ratsiraka, declared themselves independent from the republic. The new president, Ravalomanana, replaced the provincial governments by special delegations, appointed by the president. This effectively means that the autonomous provinces have ceased to exist as such, and their dissolution is planned (see below).

In 2004, the regions were finally created by the national assembly in law number 2004-001. Meanwhile the 28 regions originally proposed had become 22. Although they are subdivisions of the provinces, they are representatives (and representing the people) of the republic, not the province. The regions will also take over the assets of the "ex-Fivondronampokontany". It is also mentioned that the communes are the only entities that are operational, and there will be an unspecified period of transition to the new system. The departments are not mentioned in the law, instead the designation "components" of the regions is used.

Also in 2004, the already existing Fokontany were redefined in the presidential decree 2004-299. They are subdivisions of the communes and headed by a chief designated by the mayor.

In 2005, a new entity called "districts" (distrika) was created by presidential decree 2005-012, replacing the department level of 1994. There are 116 districts. They have the same boundaries as the old "Sous-pr�fectures" or "ex-Fivondronampokontany". They are defined as subdivisions of the regions, and contains one or more "Arrondissements Administratifs". The chief of a district is designated by the chief of the region.

In the 2007 Constitution the autonomous provinces have been removed. Instead, the regions, the communes and the fokontany (but not the districts) are included.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Madagascar

Isalo National Park

At 587,041 km² (226,657.8 sq mi), Madagascar is the world's 46th-largest country and the fourth largest island. It is slightly larger than France and it also is one of 11 distinct physiographic provinces of the South African Platform physiographic division. Map of Madagascar Satellite image of Madagascar, generated from raster graphics data supplied by The Map Library Land coverage (left) and topographical (right) maps of Madagascar Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of southern Africa, east of Mozambique. ... Isalo National Park is National Park in the Toliara Province of Madagascar. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Towards the east, a steep escarpment leads from the central highlands down into a ribbon of rain forest with a narrow coastal further east. The Canal des Pangalanes is a chain of natural and man-made lakes connected by canals that runs parallel to the east coast for some 460 km (about two-thirds of the island). The descent from the central highlands toward the west is more gradual, with remnants of deciduous forest and savanna-like plains (which in the south and southwest, are quite dry and host spiny desert and baobabs). On the west coast are many protected harbours, but silting up is a major problem caused by sediment from the high levels of erosion inland. A rainforest is a forested biome with high annual rainfall. ... The Canal des Pangalanes is a series of man made and natural lakes linked by rivers running down the east coast of Madagascar for about 300 miles. ... For other uses, see Lake (disambiguation). ... This article is about grassland. ... In geography, a plain is a large area of land with relatively low relief. ... This article is about arid terrain. ... Species See text The baobab (Adansonia), or monkey bread tree are a genus of eight species of trees, native to Madagascar (the centre of diversity, with six species), and mainland Africa and Australia (one species in each). ... For morphological image processing operations, see Erosion (morphology). ...

Along the crest of this ridge lie the central highlands, a plateau region ranging in altitude from 2,450 to 4,400 ft (750 to 1350m) above sea level. The central highlands are characterised by terraced, rice-growing valleys lying between barren hills. Here, the red laterite soil that covers much of the island has been exposed by erosion, showing clearly why the country is often referred to as the "Red Island". For other meanings, see Plateau (disambiguation). ... Cutting of laterite brickstones, Angadipuram, India Laterite is a surface formation in tropical areas which is enriched in iron and aluminium and develops by intensive and long lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock. ...

The Ankaratra Massif is in the central area south of the capital Antananarivo and hosts the highest mountain on the island, Maromokotro, with an altitude of 2,876 m (9,436 ft). The massif also contains the second-highest peak, Tsiafajavona, with an altitude of 2,643 m (8,668 ft). On very rare occasions, this region experiences snow in winter due to its high altitude. Further south is the Andringitra massif which has several peaks over 2400 m (about 8,000 ft) including the third and fourth highest peaks, Pic Boby (8,720 ft, 2,658 m) and Pic Bory (8,626 ft, 2,630 m). Other peaks in the massif include Pic Soaindra (8,594 ft, 2,620 m) and Pic Ivangomena (8,385 ft, 2,556 m). This massif also contains the Andringitra Reserve. Nickname: Location of Antananarivo (red dot) in Madagascar Country Founded 1625 Population (1,403,449 (2001 census))  - Total 1,403,449 Antananarivo (pronounced or ) is the capital of Madagascar. ... Maromokotro is the highest mountain on Madagascar. ... For other uses, see Snow (disambiguation). ... Andringitra National Park is National Park in the Fianarantsoa Province of Madagascar. ...

There are two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, dry season from May to October. South-eastern trade winds predominate, and the island occasionally experiences cyclones. Image:Atmospheric circulatlion. ... This article is about the meteorological phenomenon. ...

Ecology

Tsingy in Madagascar

Main article: Ecoregions of Madagascar

Main article: Malagasy fauna

Madagascar's long isolation from the neighboring continents has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world; some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent"^[8]. Of the 10,000 plants native to Madagascar, 90% are found nowhere else in the world.^[9] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (694x948, 779 KB) Tsingy in Madagascar. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (694x948, 779 KB) Tsingy in Madagascar. ... Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is a nature reserve located in Madagascar close to that nations Western coast. ... Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, is the fourth largest island in the world. ... A good example of malagasy convergent evolution is the fossa, a malagasy carnivore that has evolved in appearance and behaviour to be so like a large cat that it was originally classified in felidae, when it is in fact more closely related to the mongoose Madagascar has been an isolated...

Madagascar's varied fauna and flora are endangered by human activity, as a third of its native vegetation has disappeared since the 1970s, and only 18% remains intact.^[9]

The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. Madagascar's dry deciduous rain forest have been preserved generally better than the eastern rainforests or the high central plateau, presumably due to historically low population density and scarce water supplies. Windward is the side of a boat into which the wind is blowing. ... Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of the world Amazon river rain forest in Peru Amazon river rain forest in Brazil Tropical rainforests are rainforests generally found near the equator. ... For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow (TV series). ... Aerial photo of a portion of the Anjajavy Forest, inset by a swath of mangrove riparian forest. ... In isolation, Hawaiis Silverswords have adapted to xeric microclimates within volcanic craters, trapping and channeling dew and protecting leaves with reflective hairs. ... For other meanings, see Plateau (disambiguation). ...

Extensive deforestation has taken place in parts of the country. Slash-and-burn activity, locally called tavy, has occurred in the eastern and western dry forests as well as the on the central high plateau, reducing certain forest habitat and applying pressure to some endangered species. Slash-and-burn is a method sometimes used by shifting cultivators to create short-term yields from marginal soils. When practiced repeatedly without intervening fallow periods, the nutrient-poor soils may be exhausted or eroded to an unproductive state. The resulting increased surface runoff from burned lands has caused significant erosion and resulting high sedimentation to western rivers. This article is about the process of deforestation in the environment. ... This article is about the agricultural practice of slash and burn. ... Habitat (which is Latin for it inhabits) is the place where a particular species live and grow. ... The Siberian Tiger is a subspecies of tiger that are critically endangered. ... For methods, see slash and burn Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. ... A nutrient is a substance used in an organisms metabolism which must be taken in from the environment. ... Runoff flowing into a stormwater drain Surface runoff is water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface, and is a major component of the water cycle[1][2]. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called overland flow. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Madagascar

Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy. Major exports are coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts and livestock products. Vanilla has historically been of particular importance, and when in 1985 Coca-cola switched to New Coke which involved less vanilla, Madagascar's economy took a marked downturn, but returned to previous levels after the return of Coke Classic.^[10] Economy - overview: Madagascar faces problems of chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. ... For the computer security term, see Phishing. ... A decidous beech forest in Slovenia. ... For other uses, see Coffee (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Vanilla (disambiguation). ... Species Saccharum arundinaceum Saccharum bengalense Saccharum edule Saccharum officinarum Saccharum procerum Saccharum ravennae Saccharum robustum Saccharum sinense Saccharum spontaneum Sugarcane or Sugar cane (Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae), native to warm temperate to tropical... This article is about spices, the word clove is also used to describe a segment of a head of garlic and a clove hitch is a useful kind of knot. ... For other uses, see Cocoa (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... Yuca redirects here. ... This article is on the plant. ... Bananas may refer to: Bananas (film), a 1971 Woody Allen film Bananas (album), a 2003 Deep Purple album Bananas (catamorphism), a generalization of folds Bananas, one of Donkey and Dragons hybrid Children. ... For other uses, see Peanut (disambiguation). ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... New Coke was the unofficial name of the sweeter formulation introduced in 1985 by The Coca-Cola Company to replace its flagship soft drink, Coca-Cola or Coke. ...

Structural reforms began in the late 1980s, initially under pressure from international financial institutions, notably the World Bank. An initial privatization program (1988-1993) and the development of an export processing zone (EPZ) regime in the early 1990s were key milestones in this effort. A period of significant stagnation from 1991-96 was followed by 5 years of solid economic growth and accelerating foreign investment, driven by a second wave of privatizations^{[citation needed]} and EPZ development. Although structural reforms advanced, governance remained weak and perceived corruption in Madagascar was extremely high. During the period of solid growth from 1997 to 2001, poverty levels remained stubbornly high, especially in rural areas. A six-month political crisis triggered by a dispute over the outcome of the presidential elections held in December 2001 virtually halted economic activity in much of the country in the first half of 2002. Real GDP dropped 12.7% for the year 2002, inflows of foreign investment dropped sharply, and the crisis tarnished Madagascar's budding reputation as an AGOA standout and a promising place to invest. After the crisis, the economy rebounded with GDP growth of over 10% in 2003. Currency depreciation and rising inflation in 2004 have hampered economic performance, but growth for the year reached 5.3%, with inflation reaching around 25% at the end of the year. In 2005 inflation was brought under control by tight monetary policy of raising the Taux Directeur (central bank rate) to 16% and tightening reserve requirements for banks. Thus growth was expected to reach around 6.5% in 2005. The World Bank logo The World Bank (the Bank) is a part of the World Bank Group (WBG), is a bank that makes loans to developing countries for development programs with the stated goal of reducing poverty. ... An Export processing zone or EPZ eases tax and labor restrictions and their primary purpose is to generate export revenues in poor developing countries. ... A boy from Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ... In economics, the gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of the amount of the economic production of a particular territory in financial capital terms during a specific time period. ... Investment is a term with several closely-related meanings in finance and economics. ... In May 2000, the U.S. Congress approved legislation known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or . ... Currency depreciation is the loss of value of a countrys currency with respect to one or more foreign reference currencies, typically in a floating exchange rate system. ...

Following the 2002 political crisis, the government attempted to set a new course and build confidence, in coordination with international financial institutions and donors. Madagascar developed a recovery plan in collaboration with the private sector and donors and presented it at a "Friends of Madagascar" conference organized by the World Bank in Paris in July 2002. Donor countries demonstrated their confidence in the new government by pledging $1 billion in assistance over five years. The Malagasy Government identified road infrastructure as its principle priority and underlined its commitment to public-private partnership by establishing a joint public-private sector steering committee. The Global Financial System refers to those financial institutions and regulations that act on the international level, as opposed to those that act on a national or regional level. ... The World Bank logo The World Bank (the Bank) is a part of the World Bank Group (WBG), is a bank that makes loans to developing countries for development programs with the stated goal of reducing poverty. ... This article is about the capital of France. ...

In 2000, Madagascar embarked on the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The boards of the IMF and World Bank agreed in December 2000 that the country had reached the decision point for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative and defined a set of conditions for Madagascar to reach the completion point. In October 2004, the boards of the IMF and the World Bank determined that Madagascar had reached the completion point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are in many ways the replacement for Structural Adjustment Programs, and are documents required by the IMF and World Bank before a country can be considered for debt relief within the HIPC programme. ... The 38 states recognized as the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). ... The flag of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring foreign exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... The World Bank logo The World Bank (the Bank) is a part of the World Bank Group (WBG), is a bank that makes loans to developing countries for development programs with the stated goal of reducing poverty. ...

The Madagascar-U.S. Business Council was formed in Madagascar in 2002. The U.S.-Madagascar Business Council was formed in the United States in May 2003, and the two organisations continue to explore ways to work for the benefit of both groups.

The government of President Ravalomanana is aggressively seeking foreign investment and is tackling many of the obstacles to such investment, including combating corruption, reforming land-ownership laws, encouraging study of American and European business techniques, and active pursuit of foreign investors. President Ravalomanana rose to prominence through his agro-foods TIKO company, and is known for attempting to apply many of the lessons learned in the world of business to running the government. Some recent concerns have arisen about the conflict of interest between his policies and the activities of his firms. Most notable among them the preferential treatment for rice imports initiated by the government in late 2004 when responding to a production shortfall in the country.

Madagascar's sources of growth are tourism; textile and light manufacturing exports (notably through the EPZs); agricultural products and mining. Madagascar is the world's leading producer of vanilla and accounts for about half the world's export market. Tourism targets the niche eco-tourism market, capitalizing on Madagascar's unique biodiversity, unspoiled natural habitats, national parks and lemur species. Exports from the EPZs, located around Antananarivo and Antsirabe, consist the most part of garment manufacture, targeting the US market under AGOA and the European markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement. Agricultural exports consist of low-volume high-value products like vanilla, litchies and essential oils. A small but growing part of the economy is based on mining of ilmenite, with investments emerging in recent years, particularly near Tulear and Fort Dauphin.^[11] Mining corporation Rio Tinto expects to begin operations near Fort Dauphin in 2008, following several years of infrastructure preparation. The mining project is highly controversial, with Friends of the Earth and other environmental organizations filing reports to detail their concerns about effects on the local environment and communities.^[12] Tourist redirects here. ... For other uses, see Textile (disambiguation). ... Andohahela National Park park in southern Madagascar The protected areas network of Madagascar is managed by the Madagascar National Parks Association (PNM-ANGAP). ... Superfamilies and Families Cheirogaleoidea Cheirogaleidae Lemuroidea Lemuridae Lepilemuridae Indriidae Lemurs make up the infraorder Lemuriformes and are members of a group of primates known as prosimians. ... Antsirabé is the third largest city in Madagascar and has a population of approximately 183,000. ... (See also List of types of clothing) Introduction Humans often wear articles of clothing (also known as dress, garments or attire) on the body (for the alternative, see nudity). ... In May 2000, the U.S. Congress approved legislation known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or . ... Everything But Arms (EBA) is an initiative of the European Union under which all imports to the EU from the Least Developed Countries are duty free, with the exception of armaments. ... An essential oil is any concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants, which are called aromatic herbs or aromatic plants. ... Ilmenite is a weakly magnetic iron-black or steel-gray mineral found in metamorphic and igneous rocks. ... Toliara (also known as Toliary; formerly Tuléar) is a city in Madagascar. ... Fort Dauphin, was built in 1741 near Winnipegosis, Manitoba with Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye in charge of constuction. ...

Several major projects are underway in the mining and oil and gas sectors that, if successful, will give a significant boost to the Malagasy economy. In the mining sector, these include the development of coal at Sakoa and nickel near Tamatave. In oil, Madagascar Oil is developing the massive onshore heavy oil field at Tsimiroro and ultra heavy oil field at Bemolanga. Petro redirects here. ... For other uses, see Natural gas (disambiguation). ... Madagascar Oil SA (a subsidiary of Madagascar Oil Limited, Bermuda) is a Malagasy company focussing on the development, exploration and production of petroleum. ... Onshore, when used relative to hydrocarbons, refers to an oil, natural gas or condensate field that is under dry land or to activities or operations carried out in relation to such a field. ... Heavy crude oil is the type of crude oil which is characterised by the presence of high amount of wax in it, as compared to light crude oil which contains a lesser amount of wax. ... Drilling rig in a small oil field Near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 An oil field is an area with an abundance of oil wells extracting petroleum (oil) from below ground. ... Tsimiroro is the name of a large oil field in the onshore Morondava Basin of Madagascar. ... Athabasca Oil Sands Tar sands is a common term for what are more accurately called bituminous sands, but also commonly referred to as oil sands or (in Venezuela) extra heavy oil. ... Madagascar (Madagasikara) Bemolanga is the name of a large tar sands deposit in the onshore Morondava Basin of Madagascar discovered in the early 1900s. ...

Foreign relations

Madagascar was historically perceived as being on the margin of mainstream African affairs. But it eagerly rejoined the African Union in July 2003 after a 14-month hiatus triggered by the 2002 political crisis. From 1978 to 1991, President Ratsiraka emphasized independence and nonalignment and followed an "all points" policy stressing ties with socialist and radical regimes, including North Korea, Cuba, Libya, and Iran. But President Albert Zafy, taking office in 1993, expressed his desire for diplomatic relations with all countries. Early in his tenure, he established formal ties with South Korea and sent emissaries to Morocco. Anthem Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together [1] Administrative Centre Working languages Arabic English Spanish French Portuguese Swahili Membership 53 African states Leaders  -  Chairman Jakaya Kikwete  -  Jean Ping Establishment  -  as the OAU May 25, 1963   -  as the African Union July 9, 2002  Area  -  Total 29,757,900 km² (1st1... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Albert Zafy (born 1927) is a Malagasy political figure. ...

Starting in 1997, globalisation encouraged the government and President Ratsiraka to adhere to market-oriented policies and to engage world markets. External relations reflect this trend, although Madagascar's physical isolation and strong traditional insular orientation have limited its activity in regional economic organisations and relations with its East African neighbours. It enjoys closer and generally good relations with its Indian Ocean neighbours -- Mauritius, Réunion, and Comoros. Active relationships with Europe, especially France, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as with Britain, Russia, Japan, India, and China have been strong since independence. More recently, President Ravalomanana has cultivated strong links with the United States, and Madagascar was the first country to benefit from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Madagascar is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98). Globalization is a term used to describe the changes in societies and the world economy that are the result of dramatically increased trade and cultural exchange. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  Geographic East Africa, including the UN subregion and East African Community East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Participants in the Program; United States as donor is in green, red countries have active compacts, blue countries have active threshold compacts, purple countries are in negotations for either, and pink countries have negotiated threshold agreements and are negotiating for full compacts The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), run by the... The official logo of the ICC The International Criminal Court (ICC or ICCt)[1] was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression, although it cannot currently exercise jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Opened for signature June 17, 1998[1] at Rome Entered into force July 1, 2002 Conditions for entry into force 60 ratifications Parties 99[2] The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (or Rome Statute) is the treaty which established the International...

President Ravalomanana has stated that he welcomes relations with all countries interested in helping Madagascar to develop. He travels widely promoting Madagascar abroad and has consciously sought to strengthen relations with Anglophone countries as a means of balancing traditionally strong French influence. He has also cultivated strong ties with China during his tenure. Look up Anglophone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In November 2004, after an absence of almost 30 years, Madagascar re-opened its embassy in London. On 15 December 2004 the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, announced the closure of the British embassy in Antananarivo to save £250,000 a year. He also announced an end to the DFID-funded Small Grants Scheme, the only aid Britain gave to this, one of the world's poorest countries. The embassy closed in August 2005 despite petitions and protests from African heads of state, a European commissioner, the Malagasy Senate, many British companies, 30 or so NGOs operating in Madagascar, and members of the public. A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The title of Foreign Secretary has been traditionally used to refer to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. ... For other uses, see Jack Straw (disambiguation). ... Look up Petition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The British Embassy was previously closed (also for financial reasons) from 1975 to 1980. The Anglo-Malagasy Society are campaigning to have it re-opened once again.

Demographics

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Main article: Demographics of Madagascar

A village

Madagascar's population is predominantly of mixed Austronesian (i.e.Pacific Islander) and African origin. Those who are visibly Austronesian in appearance and culture are the minority, found mostly in the highland regions. Recent research suggests that the island was uninhabited until Austronesian seafarers arrived about 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. Recent DNA research shows that the Malagasy people are approximately of half Austronesian and half East African descent, although some Arab, Indian and European influence is present along the coast. Malagasy language shares some 90% of its basic vocabulary with the Maanyan language from the region of the River Barito in southern Borneo. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 937 KB) Image taken from German wikipedia (de:Bild:Antananarivo_Rova-Palast. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 937 KB) Image taken from German wikipedia (de:Bild:Antananarivo_Rova-Palast. ... Madagascars population is predominantly of mixed Asian and African origin. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1360 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1360 pixel, file size: 1. ... The Austronesian people are a population group in Oceania and Southeast Asia who speak or had ancestors who spoke one of the Austronesian languages. ... Pacific Islands (or Pacific Person, pl: Pacific People, also called Oceanic[s]), is a geographic term used in several places, such as New Zealand and the United States, to describe the inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Austronesian languages are a family of languages widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. ... For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. ...

Subsequent migrations from the East Indies and Africa consolidated this original mixture, and 36 separate tribal groups emerged. Asian features are most predominant in the Merina (3 million) ; the coastal people (called c�tiers) are of more clearly African origin. The largest coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1.5 million) and the Tsimihety and Sakalava (700,000 each). The Vezo live in the southwest. Two of the southern tribes are the Antandroy and the Antanosy. Net migration rates for 2006: positive (blue), negative (orange) and stable (green). ... The Merina is the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. ... For other uses, see Coast (disambiguation). ... The Tsimihety are an ethnic group located in north central Madagascar, numbering just under one million (approx. ... Sakalava Girl The Sakalava is a traditional name for a group of people of Madagascar numbering approximately 700,000 in population. ...

During the French colonial administration (1895-1960) and some time after independence, people were officially classified in ethnic groups. This practice was abandoned in the first census (1975) after independence^[13], so any recent classification and figures for ethnic groups is an unofficial estimate. There is for instance no mention of ethnicity or religion in the national identity cards. Also, territorial divisions (provinces, regions) do not follow any ethnic division lines, despite an attempt by the colonial administration in the early 20th century. Ethnic divisions continue, and may cause violence, but their role is limited in today's society. Regional political parties are also rare, although some parties have their most of their support in certain areas.

Only two general censuses, 1975 and 1993, have been carried out after independence.

In 1993 (last census) there were 18,497 foreign residents on Madagascar, or 0.15% of the population.

Language

A girl in a Madagascar village

The Malagasy language (pronounced Mala-gass) is of Malayo-Polynesian origin and is generally spoken throughout the island. French is spoken among the educated population of this former French colony. English, although still rare, is becoming more widely spoken and in 2003 the government began a pilot project of introducing the teaching of English into the primary grades of 44 schools, with hopes of taking the project nationwide. Many Peace Corps volunteers are serving to further this effort and train teachers. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1360 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1360 pixel, file size: 1. ... Malagasy redirects here. ... The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... It has been suggested that Crisis corps be merged into this article or section. ...

In the first Constitution of 1958, Malagasy and French were named the "official languages of the Malagasy Republic"^[14].

No official languages were recorded in the Constitution of 1992. Instead, Malagasy was named the "national language". However, many sources still claimed that Malagasy and French were official languages, as they were de facto. In April 2000 a citizen brought a legal case on the grounds that the publication of official documents in the French language only was unconstitutional. The High Constitutional Court observed in its decision^[15] that, in the absence of a language law, French still had the character of an official language.

In the Constitution of 2007, Malagasy remains the national language, while official languages are reintroduced: Malagasy, French and English. The motivation for the inclusion of English is partly to improve relations with the neighbouring countries where English is used, and to encourage foreign direct investment.^[16] This article is about economics. ...

Religion

See also: Islam in Madagascar and Roman Catholicism in Madagascar

Approximately 50% of the country's population practice traditional religion, which tends to emphasize links between the living and the dead. The Merina in the highlands particularly tend to hold tightly to this practice. They believe that the dead join their ancestors in the ranks of divinity and that ancestors are intensely concerned with the fate of their living descendants. The Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or "turning over the dead", celebrates this spiritual communion. In this ritual, relatives' remains are removed from the family tomb, rewrapped in new silk shrouds, and returned to the tomb following festive ceremonies in their honour where sometimes the bodies are lifted and carried high above the celebrants heads with singing and dancing before returning them to the tomb. Islam has been well-established in what is now known as Madagascar for centuries and today Muslims represent 7% of approximately 1. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... An ancestor is a parent or (recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i. ... For the New York prison see The Tombs. ...

About 45% of the Malagasy are Christian, divided almost evenly between Catholics and Protestants. Many incorporate the cult of the dead with their other religious beliefs and bless their dead at church before proceeding with the traditional burial rites. They also may invite a pastor to attend a famadihana. The Roman Catholic church is open to its members continuing these practices, while more conservative Protestant denominations tend to condemn them to be superstitions or demon worship that should be abandoned. Many of the Christian churches are influential in politics. The best example of this is the Malagasy Council of Churches (FFKM) comprised of the four oldest and most prominent Christian denominations (Roman Catholic, Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, Lutheran and Anglican). Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      A pastor is an... Catholic Church redirects here. ... For other uses, see Superstition (disambiguation). ... “Fiend” redirects here. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (Malagasy: Fiangonani Jesoa Kristy eto Madagasikara) (FJKM) is the second-largest Christian denomination in Madagascar. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ...

Islam in Madagascar constitutes about 7% of the population. The Muslim traders who first brought Islam in the 10th century had a deep influence on the west coast. For example, many Malagasy converted to Islam and the Malagasy language was, for the first time, transcribed into an alphabet, based on the Arabic alphabet, called Sorabe. Muslims are concentrated in the provinces of Mahajanga and Antsiranana (Diego Suarez). Muslims are divided between those of Malagasy ethnicity, Indo-Pakistanis, and Comorians. The number of mosques in the south-east region has increased from 10 to 50 in the last ten years.^[17] Recently, there has been some growth in Islam through conversion. Islam has been well-established in what is now known as Madagascar for centuries and today Muslims represent 7% of approximately 1. ... The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing languages such as Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and others. ... Sorabe, or Sora-be, is an alphabet based on Arabic used to transcribe the Malagasy language and the Antemoro dialect in particular. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Mahajanga is a city and seaport on the north-west coast of Madagascar. ... Antsiranana, named Diégo-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar, in Antsiranana province. ... Motto (French) Unity - Justice - Progress Anthem (Comorian) The Union of the Great Islands Capital (and largest city) Moroni Official languages Comorian, Arabic, French Government Federal republic  -  President Ahmed Abdallah M. Sambi Independence from France   -  Date July 6, 1975  Area  -  Total 2,235 km² (178th) 838 sq mi   -  Water (%) negligible Population... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ...

Culture

• Cuisine of Madagascar
• Music of Madagascar
• List of writers from Madagascar
• Salegy is a popular music form. There is a sudden interest in American culture and European popular culture, which is eroding the more traditional culture, and especially the music.

Cuisine of Madagascar traditionally consists of a base of rice (vary) with some form of accompaniment (laoka)[1], although in the southwest rice may be supplemented or replaced by maize that has been dried, ground and reconstituted. ... Madagascar is an island off the east coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean. ... African Writers (by country): This is a list of prominent and notable literary figures from the African continent, listed by country, including poets, novelists, childrens writers, essayists, and scholars, listed by country. ...

Film

Many films have been made in Madagascar or include references to it. A Cuban film entitled Madagascar was made in 1994, and in the 2005 Dreamworks animation film of the same name a party of zoo animals from New York find themselves on the wilderness of the coast (where the lemur and fossa populations feature prominently). Reference to Madagascar is made at the beginning of the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, in which Bond chases a bomb-making terrorist suspect named Mollaka through a shantytown, a construction site, and an embassy. Although Madagascar is named as the location of this sequence, it was actually filmed in the Bahamas. Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the film studio. ... Madagascar is a computer-animated film produced by DreamWorks Animation, and released in movie theaters on May 27, 2005. ... Superfamilies and Families Cheirogaleoidea Cheirogaleidae Lemuroidea Lemuridae Lepilemuridae Indriidae Lemurs make up the infraorder Lemuriformes and are members of a group of primates known as prosimians. ... Fossa is the Latin word for ditch or trench. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the spy series. ... Casino Royale (2006) is the twenty-first film in the James Bond series and the first to star Daniel Craig as MI6 agent James Bond. ... Please note: this list does NOT include henchmen from the 1967 film of the same name. ... [--168. ...

Miscellaneous topics

• Andavadoaka, Madagascar: A small fishing village located on the southwest coast of Madagascar
• Communications in Madagascar
• Foreign relations of Madagascar
• List of Madagascar-related topics
• Military of Madagascar
• Transport in Madagascar
• Firaisan'ny Skotisma eto Madagasikara
• National parks of Madagascar
• Malagasy diplomatic missions
• 2006 Malagasy coup d'état attempt
• Government of Madagascar
• Malagasy consular missions
• Cuisine of Madagascar

This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Telephones - main lines in use: 33,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system: system is above average for the region domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik... Madagascar historically has remained outside the mainstream of African affairs, although it is an active member of the Organization of African Unity and the Non-Aligned Movement. ... This page aims to list articles on Wikipedia that are related to Madagascar. ... Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require rewriting and/or reformatting. ... Membership badge of Kiadini Madagasikara The Firaisanny Skotisma eto Madagasikara, the national federation of three Scouting organizations of Madagascar, was founded in 1921, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1960. ... Andohahela National park in southern Madagascar The protected areas network of Madagascar is managed by the Madagascar National Parks Association (PNM-ANGAP). ... Madagascar is beginning to expand its diplomatic presence abroad. ... The 2006 Malagasy coup détat attempt occurred on November 18 during the lead-up to the December 3 presidential election in Madagascar, when retired army General Andrianafidisoa, also known as Fidy (and a previous Director General of OMNIS), declared military rule. ... In March 1998, Malagasy voters approved a revised constitution. ... Cuisine of Madagascar traditionally consists of a base of rice (vary) with some form of accompaniment (laoka)[1], although in the southwest rice may be supplemented or replaced by maize that has been dried, ground and reconstituted. ...

References

Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... Not to be confused with New Catholic Encyclopedia. ... For other places with the same name, see Royal Botanical Gardens (disambiguation). ...

External links

Find more about Madagascar on Wikipedia's sister projects:
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Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiversity-logo-Snorky. ...

Government

• The Madagascar Government official site
• National Assembly of Madagascar official site (English)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of MadagascarOfficial site
• Embassies and Consulates
  • Canada Hungary Washington DC

News

• allAfrica.com - Madagascar news headline links

Overviews

• BBC News Country Profile - Madagascar
• CIA World Factbook - Madagascar
• MADAGASIKARA.it many information about madagascar and specially NOSY BE - Madagascar
• WildMadagascar.org Overview, news, photos, cultural history. English and French

Directories

• Madagascar at the Open Directory Project
• Stanford University - Africa South of the Sahara: Madagascar directory category
• The Index on Africa - Madagascar directory category
• University of Pennsylvania - African Studies Center: Madagascar directory category
• Yahoo! - Madagascar directory category

The Open Directory Project (ODP), also known as dmoz (from , its original domain name), is a multilingual open content directory of World Wide Web links owned by Netscape that is constructed and maintained by a community of volunteer editors. ...

Ecology

• National Parks and Reserves
• Conservation.org - Madagascar
• Madagascar Wildlife Conservation MWC is a Malagasy non-profit association, which organises and pursues community-based conservations projects

Miscellaneous

• Azafady UK charity and Malagasy NGO working in southeast Madagascar to alleviate poverty, improve well-being and protect beautiful unique environments with the help of its award winning volunteering programmes.
• Shama Foundation of Madagascar charitable organization providing scholarships for underprivileged students in Madagascar
• Opinions of La Haute Cour Constitutionelle du Madagascar
• Madagascar Constitution
• Madagascar travel guide from Wikitravel
• Blue Ventures award winning not-for-profit organisation dedicated to facilitating projects and expeditions that enhance global marine conservation and research. Based in Andavadoaka, South West coast of Madagascar.
• Foko-madagascar not-for-profit organization and Rising Voices grantee project dedicated to the use of ICT as a tool to promote sustainable development, especially combining human development and the protection of the environment.

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This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other territories formerly called Somaliland, see Somaliland (disambiguation). ... Map of The Indian Ocean (CIA FB 2002) File links The following pages link to this file: Indian Ocean Categories: United States government images | Ocean maps ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Oceania (disambiguation). ... SADC-only (yellow) and SADC+SACU members Headquarters Gaborone, Botswana Working languages Membership 15 African states Leaders  -  Secretary General Establishment  -  as the SADCC April 1, 1980   -  as the SADC August 17, 1992  Website http://www. ... Motto: Justice – Paix – Travail(French) Justice – Peace – Work Anthem: Debout Congolais Capital (and largest city) Kinshasaa Official languages French Recognised regional languages Lingala, Kongo/Kituba, Swahili, Tshiluba Demonym Congolese Government Semi-Presidential Republic  -  President Joseph Kabila  -  Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga Independence  -  from Belgium June 30, 1960  Area  -  Total 2,344... This article is about the country on the southern tip of the African continent. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_SADC.svg Summary Made by self based on image at FOTW and logo at the SADC (no tracing). ... Anthem Let Us All Unite and Celebrate Together [1] Administrative Centre Working languages Arabic English Spanish French Portuguese Swahili Membership 53 African states Leaders  -  Chairman Jakaya Kikwete  -  Jean Ping Establishment  -  as the OAU May 25, 1963   -  as the African Union July 9, 2002  Area  -  Total 29,757,900 km² (1st1... Motto: Unité, Progrès, Justice(French) Unity, Progress, Justice Anthem: Une Seule Nuit(French) One Single Night Capital (and largest city) Ouagadougou Official languages French Demonym Burkinabé Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Blaise Compaoré  -  Prime Minister Tertius Zongo Independence from France   -  Date August 5, 1960  Area  -  Total 274,000 km... For the surface feature on Mars, see Cape Verde (Mars). ... Motto Unité, Dignité, Travail(French) Unity, Dignity, Work Anthem La Renaissance(French) E Zingo(Sango) Capital (and largest city) Bangui Official languages Sango, French Government Republic  -  President François Bozizé  -  Prime Minister Élie Doté Independence from France   -  Date August 13, 1960  Area  -  Total 622,984 km² (43rd) 240,534 sq... Motto: Justice – Paix – Travail(French) Justice – Peace – Work Anthem: Debout Congolais Capital (and largest city) Kinshasaa Official languages French Recognised regional languages Lingala, Kongo/Kituba, Swahili, Tshiluba Demonym Congolese Government Semi-Presidential Republic  -  President Joseph Kabila  -  Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga Independence  -  from Belgium June 30, 1960  Area  -  Total 2,344... Motto Unité, Travail, Progrès(French) Unity, Work, Progress Anthem La Congolaise Capital (and largest city) Brazzaville Official languages French Government Republic  -  President Denis Sassou Nguesso  -  Prime Minister Isidore Mvouba Independence from France   -  Date 15 August 1960  Area  -  Total 342,000 km² (64th) 132,047 sq mi   -  Water (%) 3. ... Motto Unity, Discipline and Labour(translation) Anthem LAbidjanaise Capital Yamoussoukro (de jure) Abidjan (de facto) Largest city Abidjan Official languages French Demonym Ivorian Government Republic  -  President Laurent Gbagbo[1]  -  Prime Minister Guillaume Soro[1] Independence from France   -  Date August 7, 1960  Area  -  Total 322,460 km² (68th) 124,502... Motto Unidad, Paz, Justicia(Spanish) Unity, Peace, Justice Anthem Caminemos pisando la senda Capital (and largest city) Malabo Official languages Spanish, Portuguese[1], French Government Republic  -  President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo  -  Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfubea Independence  -  from Spain October 12, 1968  Area  -  Total 28,051 km² (144th) 10... For the river, see Gambia River. ... Motto: حرية ديمقراطية وحدة (Arabic) Liberty, Democracy, Unity Anthem: Yābaniy Es-Saharā  listen This map indicates the territory claimed by the SADR, viz. ... Anthem: Independência total Capital (and largest city) São Tomé Official languages Portuguese Demonym Santomean Government Republic  -  President Fradique de Menezes  -  Prime Minister Tomé Vera Cruz Independence from Portugal   -  Date 12 July 1975  Area  -  Total 964 km² (183rd) 372 sq mi   -  Water (%) 0 Population  -  2005 estimate 157,000 (188th... Motto: Unity - Freedom - Justice Anthem: High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free Capital Freetown (1,070,200) , Largest city Freetown Official languages English Demonym Sierra Leonean, Sierra Leonian Government Constitutional republic  -  President Ernest Bai Koroma  -  Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana Independence  -  from the United Kingdom April 27, 1961   -  Republic... This article is about the country on the southern tip of the African continent. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_African_Union. ... Motto Égalité, Complémentarité, Solidarité Members and participants of La Francophonie. ... The French Community area of Belgium The French Community of Belgium (French: , Dutch: , German: ) is one of the three official communities in Belgium along with the Flemish Community and the German speaking Community. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... Motto: Anthem: Today Over Macedonia (Macedonian: Денес Над Македонија, Denes Nad Makedonija) Capital Skopje Largest city Skopje Official language(s) Macedonian1 Government President Prime Minister Parliamentary republic Branko Crvenkovski Vlado Bučkovski Independence Declared From Yugoslavia September 8, 1991 Area  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Water (%)   25,333 km² (146th) 1. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_La_Francophonie. ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost... 1 Associate member.