Madagascar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Southeast Africa.
The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands.
Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation.
Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90 percent of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth.
The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population.
Initial human settlement of Madagascar occurred between 350 BC and AD 550 by Austronesian peoples arriving on outrigger canoes from Borneo.
These were joined around AD 1000 by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel.
Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life.
The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into eighteen or more sub-groups of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands.
Until the late 18th century, the island of Madagascar was ruled by a fragmented assortment of shifting socio-political alliances.
Beginning in the early 19th century, most of the island was united and ruled as the Kingdom of Madagascar by a series of Merina nobles.
The monarchy collapsed in 1897 when the island was absorbed into the French colonial empire, from which the island gained independence in 1960.
The autonomous state of Madagascar has since undergone four major constitutional periods, termed Republics.
Since 1992 the nation has officially been governed as a constitutional democracy from its capital at Antananarivo.
However, in a popular uprising in 2009 the last elected president Marc Ravalomanana was made to resign and presidential power was transferred in March 2009 to Andry Rajoelina in a move widely viewed by the international community as a coup d'état.
In 2012, the population of Madagascar was estimated at just over 22 million, 90 percent of whom live on less than two dollars per day. Malagasy and French are both official languages of the state.
The majority of the population adheres to traditional beliefs, Christianity, or an amalgamation of both.
Ecotourism and agriculture, paired with greater investments in education, health and private enterprise, are key elements of Madagascar's development strategy.
Under Ravalomanana these investments produced substantial economic growth but the benefits were not evenly spread throughout the population, producing tensions over the increasing cost of living and declining living standards among the poor and some segments of the middle class.
Republic of Madagascar - République de Madagascar
Motto:
"Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana" (Malagasy)
"Amour, patrie, progrès" (French)
"Love, Fatherland, Progress"
Anthem: Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!
Oh, Beloved
Capital and largest city:
Antananarivo (18°55′S 47°31′E)
Official languages:
• Malagasy
• French
Ethnic groups (2004):
• 26% Merina
• 15% Betsimisaraka
• 12% Betsileo
• 7% Tsimihety
• 6% Sakalava
• 5% Antaisaka
• 5% Antandroy
• 24% Others
Demonym: Malagasy
Government: Semi-presidential republic
• President:
• Prime Minister:
Legislature: Parliament
• Upper house: Senate
• Lower house: National Assembly
Independence from France:
26 June 1960
Area:
• Total: 587,041 km2 (47th) - 226,597 sq mi
• Water (%): 0.009%
Population: 2012 estimate
22,005,222 (53rd) - 1993 census 12,238,914
Density: 35.2/km2 (174th) - 91.1/sq mi
GDP (PPP): 2011 estimate
• Total: $20.400 billion
• Per capita: $933
Currency: Malagasy ariary (MGA)
Time zone:
EAT (UTC+3) - Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+3)
Drives on the right
Calling code: +261
ISO 3166 code: MG
Internet TLD: .mg