Madagascar is an island country located off the southeastern coast of Africa and is the fourth largest island in the world. Its capital and largest city is Antananarivo. Due to early settlement by Austronesian people as well as later arrivals from Africa and other migrations, the Malagasy population is ethnically unique and the island’s languages are Malagasy and French.

Madagascar is globally renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, with over 90% of its wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. The economy, traditionally based on rice, coffee, vanilla, and cloves, faces challenges due to poverty and political instability, with frequent cyclones exacerbating difficulties.

Since independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has experienced political unrest, but it remains a country of great natural beauty and cultural diversity.