• Name : Republic of Madagascar (Repoblikan’i Madagasikara)
• Capital : Antananarivo, 2.4 million inhabitants
• Major cities : Fianarantsoa, Antsirabe, Tamatave, Diego Suarez, Toliara, Majunga
• Area : 592,000 sq. km
• Political regime : Presidential democracy
• Population : 18.6 million inhabitants
• Official Language : Malagasy (French is commonly spoken throughout)
• Currency : Ariary: € 1 is currently roughly 2800 Ariary
• GNP : 240 U.S. $ per capita
• Major religions : Predominantly Christian and Islam to a lesser extent
• Key Resources : spices (cocoa, coffee, vanilla, cloves, pepper, cinnamon, etc..) Fruit (lychee, mango); for exportation, shrimp for exportation, rice for domestic consumption. Precious and semi-precious stones, industrial stones (export) and ore, cotton.
