• Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, the fourth-largest island.
• It separated from Africa 180 million years ago and is a biodiversity hotspot: over 90% of its wildlife is endemic.
• The climate is subtropical to tropical maritime.

• First settled by Austronesian peoples around 500-700 CE, followed by Bantu groups.
• Ruled by the fragmented Kingdom of Madagascar until French annexation in 1897; gained independence in 1960.
• Currently in its fourth republic, with a military coup in 2025.

• Official languages: Malagasy and French; predominant religion is Christianity.
• Classified as a least-developed country; faces income disparities and low quality of life.
• Development strategy focuses on ecotourism, agriculture, and investments in education and health.

List of newspapers published in Madagascar.