Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 587,041 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 581,540 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 5,501 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 48

Area - comparative:
almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
4,828 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
More Climate Details

Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation:
mean elevation: 615 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 71.1% arable land 6%; permanent crops 1%; permanent pasture 64.1%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 21.5%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 7.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline

Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation
volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times

Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar’s close proximity to the African continent, ocean currents isolate the island resulting in high rates of endemic plant and animal species