he western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of
Mozambique
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
587,040 sq km
land area:
581,540 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
58%
forest and woodland:
26%
other:
11%
Irrigated land:
9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with untreated sewage and
other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the
island are endangered
natural hazards:
subject to periodic cyclones
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test
Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel

@Madagascar, People

Population:
13,427,758 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.19% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
45.22 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
13.35 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
89 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
53.98 years
male:
52.06 years
female:
55.96 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.68 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective:
Malagasy
Ethnic divisions:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed
African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka,
Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malaga