AREA: total: 587,041 sq km
Coastline: 4828 km

POPULATION:28,812,195 (2023 est.)
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE: 70.7% (2012 est.)

URBANIZATION: 40.6% of total population (2023)

ETHNIC GROUPS: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry – Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

RELIGIONS: Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.)

AGES:
0-14 years: 37.47% (male 5,451,018/female 5,343,865)

15-64 years: 58.72% (male 8,481,873/female 8,437,644)

65 years and over: 3.81% (2023 est.) (male 506,495/female 591,300)

GOVERNMENT TYPE:
SemiPresidential Republic

INDEPENDENCE:
June 26, 1960 (from France)

CHIEF OF STATE: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 21 January 2019)

Head of government: Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018)

MILITARY STRENGTH:
approximately 13,000 personnel (12,000 Army; 500 Navy; 500 Air Force); estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2022)

SOURCE: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/madagascar/#military-and-security