Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Area:
total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Economy
GDP: $16.36 billion (2005 est.)
GDP growth rate: 5.1% (2005 est.)
GDP per capita: $900 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate: 15% (2005 est.)
Currency: Madagascar ariary (MGA)
Exchange rates: Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001)
People
Population: 18,595,469 (July 2006 est.)
Growth rate: 3.03% (2006 est.)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)
