African Members of FOCAC

　　Madagascar

　　（Updated February 2018）

　　【Official Name】Republic of Madagascar

　　【Area】590,750 k㎡ (including the smaller peripheral islands)

　　【Population】About 24.9 million (2016). The Malagasy people account for more than 98% of the total population and are made up of 18 ethnic groups. The larger ones are: Merina (26.1% of the total population), Betsimisaraka (14.1%), Betsileo (12%), Tsimihety (7.2%), Sakalava (5.8%), Antandroy (5.3%) and Antaisaka (5%). The ethnic languages, cultures, and customs are generally the same. The national language is Malagasy (a Malayo-Polynesian language), and French is also the official language. Among the residents, 52% adhere to traditional beliefs, 41% to Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), and 7% to Islamism.

　　【Capital】Antananarivo with a population of about 1.9 million and an average annual temperature of 18℃

　　【Head of State】President Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana (since 2014)

　　【Holiday】Independence Day (June 26)

　　【Geography and Climate】Separated from the eastern coast of the African continent by the Mozambique Channel and located in the west of the Indian Ocean, Madagascarcomprises the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest island in the world. The country has a coastline of about 5,000 km. The southeastern coastal area has a tropical rainforest climate, with hot and humid weather all year round and an annual average temperature of 24℃; the central part is a tropical plateau climate with mild and cool temperatures at an average 18.3℃; the west is a dry tropical savanna climate with an annual average temperature of 26.6℃.