Population 19,448,815 (July 2007 est.): Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Capital City Antananarivo

Languages French (official), Malagasy (official)

Official Currency Malagasy Franc

Religions indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Land

Located at Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Land Area 581,540 sq km (224,533 sq miles) - slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Natural Resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower