Madagascar is a country in Eastern Africa, one of the 20 entries this site files under that subregion. Treaties and official documents call it Republic of Madagascar. Its seat of government is Antananarivo.
It is home to roughly 32.0 million people, placing it 49th of 250 by population — between Peru above it and Ivory Coast below. Among the 20 entries in Eastern Africa it ranks 6th by area and 6th by population.
The land area is 587,041 km², which ranks it 47th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Ukraine and just ahead of Botswana. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is almost exactly the same size as Kenya.
Madagascar on the map
Plotted on a globe it falls at 20.0° south, 47.0° east, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 2,226 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
The Tropic of Capricorn passes across it. Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
It shares no land border with anyone. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, a group made up mostly of islands and island groups.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
How crowded Madagascar is, and what is spoken there
Density comes out at around 54 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
The demonym is Malagasy, so residents are Malagasys.
It recognises 2 languages: French and Malagasy. Malagasy is listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes it effectively unique to Madagascar. French, the first listed, is shared with 45 other entries worldwide.
Against Africa as a whole it is the 15th most populous of 59 entries, and it accounts for 6.5% of everyone living in Eastern Africa.
Money, codes and practical details
The currency is the Malagasy ariary (Ar, MGA). It is issued for Madagascar alone.
Antananarivo is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Its internet country code is .mg. To phone it from abroad you dial +261. In ISO terms it is mg in two letters and MDG in three.
As a sovereign state it is among the 193 UN members listed here. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Fun facts about Madagascar
- In land area it is almost exactly the same size as Kenya.
- Within Eastern Africa it is the 6th largest of 20.
- Population density works out at roughly 54 people per square kilometre.
- New Caledonia and Fiji sit at almost the same latitude, on the far side of the globe.
- Websites based there use the .mg domain.
- Its full official name is Republic of Madagascar.
Madagascar — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Madagascar?
- The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo.
- How big is Madagascar?
- Madagascar covers 587,041 km², ranking 47th of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Kenya.
- Does Madagascar border any other country?
- No. Madagascar has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.
- What currency does Madagascar use?
- Madagascar uses the Malagasy ariary, written Ar (currency code MGA). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Is Madagascar a country?
- Yes. Madagascar is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What language is spoken in Madagascar?
- Madagascar lists 2 official languages: French and Malagasy. Malagasy does not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- What is the population of Madagascar?
- Madagascar has a population of about 32.0 million, which makes it the 49th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Peru sits just above it and Ivory Coast just below.
- Where is Madagascar located?
- Madagascar is in Eastern Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 20.0° south and 47.0° east, roughly 2,226 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
