Madagascar: Introduction

This introductory document provides a geographic, climatic, and political overview of Madagascar, detailing its vulnerability to extreme weather and its history of political instability and democratic transitions leading up to 2024.

• Madagascar is highly susceptible to severe climate risks and extreme weather events, including flooding, drought, and cyclones, due to its socioeconomic conditions, topography, and location. Precipitation varies significantly by region: the east coast receives up to 3,500-4,000 mm annually, the central highlands receive 1,200-1,500 mm, the west coast receives 800-1,200 mm, and the south and southwest are semi-arid to arid.
• The country has experienced significant political instability, including a severe standoff in 2001-2002 between Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana, and a 2009 coup d'état where Andry Rajoelina ousted Ravalomanana with military support. This coup led to international condemnation, the suspension of foreign aid, and suspension from the African Union until the restoration of constitutional order in January 2014.
• Recent political developments show a consolidation of power for the presidential platform. Andry Rajoelina was re-elected President in December 2023. In May 2024 legislative elections, the presidential party won an absolute majority with 84 of 163 deputies, and in December 2024 municipal elections, the coalition won over 960 of 1,695 mayoral seats.
• Madagascar is a low-income country with a population of approximately 31.3 million as of 2023, with its largest city, Antananarivo, housing about 3 million people. Its economy relies on textiles, tourism, mining, and subsistence agriculture.

APA

McLachlan, D. T., & Bello-Schünemann, J. (2026). Madagascar: Introduction. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=MG&topic=01-introduction

Chicago

McLachlan, Du Toit, and Julia Bello-Schünemann. Madagascar: Introduction. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=MG&topic=01-introduction.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=McLachlan |first1=Du Toit |last2=Bello-Schünemann |first2=Julia |title=Madagascar: Introduction |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=31 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=MG&topic=01-introduction |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mclachlan2026madagascar, author = {McLachlan, Du Toit and Bello-Schünemann, Julia}, title = {{Madagascar: Introduction}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=MG&topic=01-introduction}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }