» Size: 587,040 square kilometers. 1500 kilometers by 400 kilometers.
» Coastline: 5000 kilometers
» Highest altitude: 2876 meters
» Time zone: GMT/UTC +3 hours
» President: H.E Marc Ravalomanana, since April 2002
» Regime: Democratic
» Citizens: Malagasy
» Capital: Antananarivo or Tananarive (commonly called Tana)
» Provinces: Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina, Toliary.
Since 2003, Madagascar has been divided into 22 administrative regions and committed to a fast and sustainable development of the country.
» Main political vision: " Fast and sustainable development"
» Independence day: 26th June 1960
» Ethnicity: 18 official tribes.
» Population: 15 million inhabitants.
» Religions: Christian, Traditional and Moslem.
» Languages: Malagasy with 18 dialects.
French is the second language. English has also become an official language since March 2007.
» Population distribution by chief provinces:
» Antsiranana: 7.9 per cent
» Mahajanga: 10.8 per cent
» Antananarivo: 28.5 per cent
» Toamasina:15.5 per cent
» Fianarantsoa: 23.7 per cent
» Toliary:13.6 per cent
» Main resources:
Coffee, vanilla, cloves, shrimps, textile, essential oil, sugar, sapphire, raphia fibers, handicrafts, Tourism industry, export processing zone, cloths, sugar, tobacco, minerals and precious stones...
» Money: Malagasy Ariary (Mga) - Rates: US$1 = Mga2000 - Euro1.00 = Mga2700
» Seasons: hot and rainy season from November to April; cool and dry season from May to October.
» Precipitation: from 1 to 3.5 meters per year. See Climate of Madagascar
» Basic food: rice, zebu meat, vegetables
» Electricity voltage: 110 and 220 V.
» Public holidays:
- 1st January: New year
- 8th March: Women's day
- 29th March: Revolution day (1947)
- Easter Monday
- 01st May: Labour day
- 25th May: African Union day
- Whit Monday
- 26th June: Independence day
- 15th August: The Assumption
- 1st November: All Saints
- 25th December: Christmas (half day off) |