Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Madagascar - Statistics & Facts
Madagascar is one of the largest island nations, located of the coast of Southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean. Its remoteness has made the island one of the most diverse and biologically rich nations worldwide,with most of the islands animals and plants being unique to this ecosystem, and it has the potential to be a unique destination for nature loving tourists. One of the world’s largest coral reef areas can also be found in Madagascar. However, almost 90 percent of the nation's coral reef area is threatened due to increasing human pressure in combination with the effects of a changing climate. Considering that many inhabitants depend on the reef for their livelihood, as a source of both income and nutrition, this poses an increasingly bigger problem. While biologically rich, Madagascar is also extremely poor and its people are among the most-affected by hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Further challenges include tropical cyclones, heavy rains and flooding, but also political instability.
