Madagascar

Madagascar is an island country in Africa with its capital in Antananarivo and about 32.7 million people. Madagascar is known for lemurs and other wildlife found nowhere else, and for its avenue of giant baobab trees.

Madagascar in purple, with Antananarivo marked. Outline from the same detailed coastlines the games use.

Capital: Antananarivo
Continent: Africa
Population (2025): 32.7 million
Land area: 581,800 km² (224,634 sq mi)
Island country: Yes, all on islands

Find it among 54 Africa countries →Explore Madagascar on the map Name difficult islands

The story of Madagascar

Where the name comes from

Madagascar spread through Marco Polo’s travel account as Madageiscar, often explained as a confused form of Mogadishu; the exact origin is uncertain.

First people

People from Borneo and East Africa settled the island over the last 2,000 years, so Malagasy belongs to the Austronesian family of Southeast Asia and the Pacific.^1,2