Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Population: 19,448,815 (July 2007 est.)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages: English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Currency (code): Madagascar ariary (MGA)
Exchange rates: Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 1,880 (2007), 2,161.4 (2006), 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003)
