Madagascar | History, Population, Languages, Map, & Facts

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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar"> Madagascar</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0"> <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref23456"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23456">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23457"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23457">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23459"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23459">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23460"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar#ref23460">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23461"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Climate">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23462"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Climate#ref23462">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23464"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Climate#ref23464">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279540"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279541"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups#ref279541">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279542"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups#ref279542">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23463"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups#ref23463">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23466"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Demographic-trends">Demographic trends</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279543"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Demographic-trends#ref279543">Social and economic divisions</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23467"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Demographic-trends#ref23467">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23469"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23468"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref23468">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23470"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref23470">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23471"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Agriculture-forestry-and-fishing#ref23471">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279544"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services">Trade and services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279545"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref279545">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23473"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref23473">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23474"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref23474">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279546"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Trade-and-services#ref279546">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279547"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23476"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23476">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23477"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23477">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23479"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23479">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23480"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23480">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23478"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23478">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref23482"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23482">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23483"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Local-government#ref23483">Cultural milieu</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279548"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Daily-life-and-social-customs">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23484"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref23484">The arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23485"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref23485">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref260868"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Sports-and-recreation">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23486"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Sports-and-recreation#ref23486">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref215855"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23444"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/History#ref23444">Early history</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23445"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/History#ref23445">Madagascar from 1500 to <em>c.</em> 1650</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23446"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810">Political evolution from 1650 to 1810</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23447"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810#ref23447">Early European contacts</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23448"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810#ref23448">The kingdom of Madagascar</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23449"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Political-evolution-from-1650-to-1810#ref23449">Formation of the kingdom (1810–61)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23450"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95">Outside influences (1861–95)</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref23451"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95#ref23451">The French period</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23452"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95#ref23452">The colonial period (1896–1945)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref23453"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Outside-influences-1861-95#ref23453">The French Union (1946–58)</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279549"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-First-Republic">The First Republic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279550"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-First-Republic#ref279550">Transition</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279551"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Second-Republic">The Second Republic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref279552"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic">The Third Republic</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref279553"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic#ref279553">Zafy’s presidency and impeachment</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref279554"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic#ref279554">Ratsiraka’s return to power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref279555"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/The-Third-Republic#ref279555">Political crisis and renewal</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref284071"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Power-struggle">Power struggle</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref314180"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Power-struggle#ref314180">The Fourth Republic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref341163"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Return-to-constitutional-order">Return to constitutional order</a></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" 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Kent, Aidan William Southall, Hubert Jules Deschamps, Jean Dresch" data-title="Madagascar" data-published-date="25 Sep. 2023" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906oe_/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar"> <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-share-modal355562"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal355562 size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Madagascar" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906oe_/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar"> <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon twitter justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://twitter.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Twitter</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar">https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar</a> </div> </div> <button class="js-feedback js-modal btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <button class="js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=355562] .md-websites-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n5 mr-5" data-icon="link"></em> External Websites </button> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/submission/feedback/355562"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? 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Author of <i>Madagascar: Politics, Economics and Society</i> and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor"> Maureen Ann Covell</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Raymond-K-Kent/3832"> <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Raymond K. Kent</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of History, University of California, Berkeley. Author of <i>Early Kingdoms in Madagascar, 1500–1700 </i>and many others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor"> Raymond K. Kent</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Aidan-William-Southall/2800"> <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Aidan William Southall</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Editor of <i>Social Change in Modern Africa; </i>coeditor of <i>Madagascar: Society and History.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor"> Aidan William Southall</span><a class="see-all border-left border-gray-700 pl-5 gtm-byline font-12 ml-5" rel="nofollow" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/additional-info#contributors">See All</a> </div> <div class="font-sans-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419"> <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 font-12"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12"> <span class="text-gray-700 font-sans-serif"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2023-09-25T00:00:00CDT">Sep 25, 2023</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border w-100 rounded-sm shadow-sm js-sections-inline-button my-20"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="topic-content"> <script class="page-description-json" type="application/json"> { "url": "/place/Madagascar", "shareUrl": 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src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/33/145733-005-92F67B0C/instrumental-national-anthem-Madagascar.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" controls=""></audio> <div class="font-12"> <strong>Audio File:</strong> National anthem of Madagascar</div> <div class="text-center py-10"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/images-videos">See all media</a> </div> <div class="facts-list pt-20 border-top"> <div class="mb-10"> <span class="font-weight-bold">Category:</span> <a class="GEOGRAPHY font-weight-semi-bold super-category-badge rounded font-14" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/Geography-Travel"> Geography & Travel </a> </div> <dl class="js-fact mb-10 position-relative "> <dt class="d-inline">Head Of Government:</dt> <dd class="d-inline"> <span class="fact-item">Prime Minister: Christian Ntsay</span></dd> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 position-absolute pr-20 bottom-0 right-0 bg-white" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> ...<em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </dl> <dl class="js-fact mb-10 position-relative line-clamp clamp-3"> <dt class="d-inline">Capital:</dt> <dd class="d-inline"> <span class="fact-item"><a href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Antananarivo">Antananarivo</a></span></dd> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 position-absolute pr-20 bottom-0 right-0 bg-white" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> ...<em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </dl> <dl class="js-fact mb-10 position-relative line-clamp clamp-3"> <dt class="d-inline">Population:</dt> <dd class="d-inline"> <span class="fact-item">(2023 est.) 29,892,000</span></dd> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 position-absolute pr-20 bottom-0 right-0 bg-white" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> ...<em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </dl> <dl class="js-fact mb-10 position-relative line-clamp clamp-3"> <dt class="d-inline">Head Of State :</dt> <dd class="d-inline"> <span class="fact-item">President: Christian Ntsay (acting)</span></dd> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 position-absolute pr-20 bottom-0 right-0 bg-white" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> ...<em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </dl> <dl class="js-fact mb-0 position-relative line-clamp clamp-3"> <dt class="d-inline">Form Of Government:</dt> <dd class="d-inline"> <span class="fact-item">republic with two legislative houses (National Assembly [151] and Senate [63<sup><a href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/facts/Madagascar">1</a></sup>])<sup><a href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/facts/Madagascar">2</a></sup></span></dd> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 position-absolute pr-20 bottom-0 right-0 bg-white" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> ...<em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </dl> </div> <div class="text-center mt-20"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/facts/Madagascar"> See all facts & stats →</a> </div> </div><div class="in-the-news mb-10"> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 mb-5 text-hr text-hr-right border-red">Recent News</h2> <div class="in-the-news-section mt-10 "> <div class="font-weight-bold font-12"> Sep. 24, 2023, 9:17 AM ET (DailyNews) </div> <a class="d-block my-5 font-14 gtm-ap-news-link font-weight-semi-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://dailynews.co.zw/fashion-retailer-mango-branches-into-zimbabwe/" rel="nofollow">Fashion retailer Mango branches into Zimbabwe – DailyNews</a> </div> <div class="in-the-news-section mt-10 "> <div class="font-weight-bold font-12"> Sep. 10, 2023, 7:27 AM ET (Reuters) </div> <a class="d-block my-5 font-14 gtm-ap-news-link font-weight-semi-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-president-resigns-ahead-polls-november-2023-09-10/" rel="nofollow">Madagascar president resigns ahead of polls in November</a> </div> <div class="in-the-news-section mt-10 after3 d-none"> <div class="font-weight-bold font-12"> Sep. 8, 2023, 2:40 AM ET (Yahoo News) </div> <a class="d-block my-5 font-14 gtm-ap-news-link font-weight-semi-bold" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://news.yahoo.com/madagascan-presidents-ex-aide-pleads-120114012.html" rel="nofollow">Madagascan president's ex-aide pleads not guilty to bribery in London</a> </div> </div> <button class="btn btn-xs btn-link btn-show-more p-0 mb-20"> <div class="button-content">Show More <span class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="expand_more"></span></div> <div class="button-content d-none">Show Less <span class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="expand_less"></span></div> </button><span class="marker before-article"></span><section id="ref1" data-level="1"><div class="assemblies medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="rw-slide col-100 px-20"><figure class="md-assembly card print-false" data-assembly-id="95199"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/14/97314-050-BA499120/Coquerel-sifaka-type-lemur-Madagascar.jpg" class="position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/355562/95199"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/14/97314-050-BA499120/Coquerel-sifaka-type-lemur-Madagascar.jpg?w=300" alt="Coquerel's sifaka" data-width="1500" data-height="1600" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><a class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mb-5 d-inline-block font-16 font-sans-serif media-overlay-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/14/97314-050-BA499120/Coquerel-sifaka-type-lemur-Madagascar.jpg" data-href="/media/1/355562/95199">Coquerel's sifaka</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref386716"></span>Madagascar</strong>, island <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">country</a> lying off the southeastern coast of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Africa</a>. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, after <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenland" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Greenland</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">New Guinea</a>, and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Borneo-island-Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Borneo</a>. </p><span class="marker p1"></span><span class="marker AM1 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly card print-false" data-assembly-id="224959"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/96/183696-050-57D324C2/World-Data-Locator-Map-Madagascar.jpg" class="position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/355562/224959"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/96/183696-050-57D324C2/World-Data-Locator-Map-Madagascar.jpg" alt="Madagascar" data-width="1600" data-height="1533" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><a class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mb-5 d-inline-block font-16 font-sans-serif media-overlay-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/96/183696-050-57D324C2/World-Data-Locator-Map-Madagascar.jpg" data-href="/media/1/355562/224959">Madagascar</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Although located some 250 miles (400 km) from the African continent, Madagascar’s population is primarily related not to African peoples but rather to those of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Indonesia</a>, more than 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to the east. The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Malagasy-peoples" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">Malagasy peoples</a>, moreover, do not consider themselves to be Africans, but, because of the continuing bond with <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/France" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">France</a> that resulted from former colonial rule, the island developed political, economic, and cultural links with the French-speaking countries of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/western-Africa" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">western Africa</a>. The animal life and vegetation of the island are equally <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="anomalous" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/anomalous" data-type="EB">anomalous</a>, differing greatly from that of nearby Africa and being in many respects unique. Although the coastlands have been known to Europeans for more than 400 years and to Arabs for much longer, recent historical development has been more intense and concentrated in the central <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/science/plateau-landform" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">plateau</a>, which contains the capital city of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Antananarivo" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Antananarivo</a> (formerly Tananarive).</p><span class="marker p2"></span><span class="marker AM2 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Aidan-William-Southall/2800">Aidan William Southall</a></span><span class="marker h2"></span><section id="ref23456" data-level="1"> <h2 class="h1"><span id="ref386719"></span>Land</h2> <div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly card print-false" data-assembly-id="61433"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/48/2248-050-F8351B9E/Madagascar-map-features-locator.jpg" class="position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/355562/61433"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/48/2248-050-F8351B9E/Madagascar-map-features-locator.jpg" alt="Madagascar" data-width="1600" data-height="1325" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><a class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mb-5 d-inline-block font-16 font-sans-serif media-overlay-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/48/2248-050-F8351B9E/Madagascar-map-features-locator.jpg" data-href="/media/1/355562/61433">Madagascar</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Madagascar is located in the southwestern <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Indian-Ocean" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Indian Ocean</a> and is separated from the African coast by the 250-mile- (400-km-) wide <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Mozambique-Channel" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Mozambique Channel</a>.</p><span class="marker p3"></span><span class="marker AM3 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <section id="ref23457" data-level="2"><h2 class="h2">Relief</h2> <p class="topic-paragraph">Madagascar consists of three parallel longitudinal zones—the central plateau, the coastal strip in the east, and the zone of low plateaus and plains in the west.</p><span class="marker p4"></span><span class="marker AM4 am-inline"></span><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/quiz/match-the-country-with-its-hemisphere-quiz"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/17/129617-131-A1FC7423/globe-map-world-Brown-geography-blog-travel-2009.jpg" alt="Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70"/> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">Situated between 2,500 and 4,500 feet (800 and 1,400 metres) above <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">sea level</a>, the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="plateau" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/plateau" data-type="EB">plateau</a> has been uplifted and worn down several times and is tilted to the west. Three massifs are more than 8,500 feet (2,600 metres) high. The Tsaratanana region in the north is separated from the rest of the plateau by the <span id="ref386720"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Tsaratanana-Massif" class="md-crosslink">Tsaratanana Massif</a>, whose summit, <span id="ref1010652"></span>Maromokotro, reaches 9,436 feet (2,876 metres) and is the highest point on the island. <span id="ref386721"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Ankaratra" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Ankaratra Massif</a> in the centre is an enormous volcanic mass whose summit, <span id="ref386722"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Tsiafajavona" class="md-crosslink">Tsiafajavona</a>, is 8,671 feet (2,643 metres) high. Ankaratra is a major watershed divide separating three main river basins. Farther south, <span id="ref386723"></span>Andringitra is a vast granite massif north of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Tolanaro" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Tôlan̈aro</a> (Faradofay); it rises to 8,720 feet (2,658 metres) at <span id="ref386724"></span>Boby Peak.</p><span class="marker p5"></span><span class="marker AM5 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">The plateau slopes with some regularity toward the extreme southern plain, but its boundaries to the east and west are more abrupt. To the east it <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="descends" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/descends" data-type="EB">descends</a> in a sharp fault, by vertical steps of 1,000 to 2,000 feet (300 to 600 metres). This cliff, which is called the <span id="ref386725"></span>Great Cliff or the Cliff of Angavo, is often impassable and is itself bordered by the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Betsimisaraka" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">Betsimisaraka</a> Escarpment, a second and lower cliff to the east, which overhangs the coastal plain. Behind the scarp face are the remains of ancient lakes, including one called Alaotra. To the south the two steep gradients meet and form the Mahafaly and the Androy plateaus, which overhang the sea in precipitous cliffs. Toward the west the descent is made in a series of steps. However, in places the central plateau is bordered by an impassable escarpment, such as the Cliff of Bongolava in the west-central part of the island. To the extreme north the plateau is bordered by the low belt of the Ambohitra Mountains, which include a series of volcanic craters.</p><span class="marker p6"></span><span class="marker AM6 am-inline"></span><div class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><div class="container p-20"> <div class="grid shadow bg-navy-dark border-radius border-black p-0"> <div class="pl-0 col-10"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://premium.britannica.com/student-subscription/?utm_source=inline&utm_medium=mendel&utm_campaign=student-subscription"> <img class="text-left" style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/ThistleCroppedWhiteonBlue.png"/> </a> </div> <div class="col text-left"> <div class="text-white h3 mt-20 ml-0">Are you a student? Get Britannica Premium for only $24.95 - a 67% discount!</div> <a class="btn btn-m mb-20 btn-orange-dark" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://premium.britannica.com/student-subscription/?utm_source=inline&utm_medium=mendel&utm_campaign=student-subscription">Subscribe Now</a> </div> </div> </div></div><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">The coastal strip has an average width of about 30 miles (50 km). It is a narrow <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/science/floodplain" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">alluvial plain</a> that <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="terminates" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/terminates" data-type="EB">terminates</a> in a low coastline bordered with lagoons linked together by the Pangalanes (Ampangalana) Canal, which is more than 370 miles (600 km) long. To the south of Farafangana the coast becomes rocky, and in the southeast there occur many little bays. To the northeast is the deep Bay of Antongil (Antongila).</p><span class="marker p7"></span><span class="marker AM7 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly card print-false" data-assembly-id="39556"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/85/46985-004-30C81789/Beach-Nosy-Be-Madagascar.jpg" class="position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/355562/39556"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/85/46985-004-30C81789/Beach-Nosy-Be-Madagascar.jpg?w=300" alt="Nosy Be" data-width="450" data-height="450" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><a class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mb-5 d-inline-block font-16 font-sans-serif media-overlay-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/85/46985-004-30C81789/Beach-Nosy-Be-Madagascar.jpg" data-href="/media/1/355562/39556">Nosy Be</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The western zone is between 60 and 125 miles (100 and 200 km) wide. Its sedimentary layers slope toward the Mozambique Channel and produce a succession of hills. The inland (eastern) side of these steep hills dominates the hollows formed in the soft sediments of the interior, while the other side descends to the sea in rocky slopes. The coastline is straight, bordered by small dunes and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="fringed" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/fringed" data-type="EB">fringed</a> with mangroves. The currents in the Mozambique Channel have favoured the offshore deposit of alluvium and the growth of river deltas. On the northwestern coast there are a number of estuaries and bays. This coast is bordered by coral reefs and volcanic islands, such as <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Nosy-Be" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Nosy Be</a> (Nossi-Bé), which protects Ampasindava Bay.</p><span class="marker p8"></span><span class="marker AM8 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Jean-Dresch/779">Jean Dresch</a></span></section> <section id="ref23459" data-level="2"><h2 class="h2">Drainage</h2> <p class="topic-paragraph">The steep eastern face of the plateau is drained by numerous short, torrential rivers, such as the Mandrare, the Mananara, the Faraony, the Ivondro, and the Maningory, which discharge either into the coastal lagoons or directly into the sea over waterfalls and rapids. The more gently sloping western side of the plateau is crossed by longer and larger rivers, including the Onilahy, the Mangoky, the Tsiribihina, and the Betsiboka, which bring huge deposits of fertile alluvium down into the vast plains and many-channeled estuaries; the river mouths, while not completely blocked by this sediment, are studded with numerous sandbanks.</p><span class="marker p9"></span><span class="marker AM9 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">There are many lakes of volcanic origin on the island, such as Lake Itasy. <span id="ref386731"></span>Alaotra is the last surviving lake of the eastern slope. <span id="ref386732"></span>Lake Tsimanampetsotsa, near the coast south of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/place/Toliara" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Toliara</a> (formerly Tuléar), is a large body of saline water that has no outlet.</p><span class="marker p10"></span><span class="marker AM10 am-inline"></span><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span></section> <section id="ref23460" data-level="2"><h2 class="h2">Soils</h2> <p class="topic-paragraph">The central plateau and the eastern coast are mainly composed of gneiss, granite, quartz, and other <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/science/crystalline-rock" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">crystalline rock</a> formations. The gneiss decomposes into red murrum, laterite, and deeper and more fertile red earths, giving Madagascar its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="colloquial" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colloquial" data-type="MW">colloquial</a> name the Great Red Island. Fertile alluvial soils in the valleys support intensive cultivation. There also are scattered volcanic intrusions that produce fertile but easily erodible soils. Lake Alaotra is a large sedimentary pocket in the central plateau containing some of the island’s most productive farmland. The western third of the island consists entirely of deposits of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/science/sedimentary-rock" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">sedimentary rock</a>, giving rise to soils of medium to low fertility.</p><span class="marker p11"></span><span class="marker AM11 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span></section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//web.archive.org/web/20230926120906if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":17,"pageId":355562,"pageLength":1007,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [{"id":1012,"name":"SUBSCRIPTION_LINK_DESKTOP","selector":"#fake"}] </script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906js_/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-103/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.103.19"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-103/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.103.19' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906js_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-6636134-11" async="async"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function gaPageLoad(pathname, documentLocation) { pathname = pathname || location.pathname; documentLocation = documentLocation || document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-ytrk-page'); if (documentLocation) { documentLocation = documentLocation.replace(/ /g, '/'); if (documentLocation.charAt(0) !== '/') { documentLocation = '/' + documentLocation; } window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('set', { 'dimension1': 'ANONYMOUS', 'dimension2': 'D', 'dimension3': 'D' }); //console.log( "*****[UA]***** -> ", documentLocation + pathname + decodeURI(location.search) ); gtag('config', 'UA-6636134-11', { 'page_path': documentLocation + pathname + decodeURI(location.search), 'link_attribution': true, }); } } gaPageLoad(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//web.archive.org/web/20230926120906/https://www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> <script defer src="https://web.archive.org/web/20230926120906js_/https://static.cloudflareinsights.com/beacon.min.js/v8b253dfea2ab4077af8c6f58422dfbfd1689876627854" integrity="" data-cf-beacon="{"rayId":"80cb65699ae796e7","version":"2023.8.0","b":1,"token":"5cc7d7124de641b181da990fc8c9a0b6","si":100}" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> </body> </html>

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