Overview

Madagascar is a large island nation located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometers off the coast of East Africa. It is the fourth-largest island in the world and is separated from the African continent by the Mozambique Channel. Madagascar covers a land area of approximately 587,041 square kilometers and has an estimated population of 31,350,200 as of February 2026. The country is a unitary semi-presidential republic administratively divided into 23 regions, with its capital and largest city, Antananarivo, situated in the central highlands.

In 2025, the GDP reached approximately US$17.8 billion, and the per capita GDP was US$575. Madagascar's economy is heavily dominated by the agricultural sector, which accounts for c.24% of its GDP and employs more than 75% of the total labor force. The country is a global leader in the production of natural vanilla, providing approximately 80% of the world's supply, along with significant exports of cloves, coffee, and essential oils. The industrial sector represents approximately 16% of GDP, driven by textile manufacturing within Export Processing Zones and large-scale mining operations for nickel, cobalt, and ilmenite. The service sector contributes c.54% of GDP, with tourism becoming an increasingly vital driver of foreign exchange. Its largest trading partners are France, the United States, China, Japan, and India. Imports of refined petroleum, rice, and specialized machinery are among the highest in the country, with top import partners being China, France, and India.

Madagascar has a distinct history marked by waves of migration from Austronesia and East Africa, leading to a unique Malayo-Polynesian and African cultural synthesis. The island was unified under the Merina Kingdom in the 19th century before becoming a French colony in 1897. Madagascar regained full independence on June 26, 1960. Since then, the nation has experienced periods of political transition and social change. Today, Madagascar is internationally recognized for its megadiversity, as over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth..