Madagascar at its true size
Madagascar covers 587,295 km², number 48 of 235 by area. Home to 32,740,678 people (2025). Sitting near the equator, it is one of the few places Mercator gets almost right.
Equal-area projection · Natural Earth 50m
| Area | 587,295 km² Wikidata |
|---|---|
| Population | 32,740,678 World Bank, 2025 |
| Density | 56 per km² |
| Capital | Antananarivo |
| Region | Eastern Africa, Africa |
| Status | Independent state |
| Coast | Has a coastline |
| Codes | MG · MDG · 450 |
Countries of a similar size
- Botswana1.01×Madagascar and Botswana are almost exactly the same size.
- Kenya1.01×Madagascar and Kenya are almost exactly the same size.
- Ukraine0.97×Madagascar and Ukraine are almost exactly the same size.
- Central African Republic0.94×Madagascar is 6% smaller than Central African Republic.
- Somalia0.92×Madagascar is 8% smaller than Somalia.
- France0.91×Madagascar is 9% smaller than France.
How many times does Madagascar fit into…
- Russia: about 29 times
- Canada: about 17 times
- United States: about 17 times
Questions about Madagascar
- How big is Madagascar?
- Madagascar covers 587,295 km², which makes it number 48 of 235 countries and territories by area. About 32,740,678 people live there (2025), 56 per km².
- Is Madagascar bigger than Botswana?
- Madagascar and Botswana are almost exactly the same size. Madagascar: 587,295 km²; Botswana: 581,737 km².
- How much does the Mercator map distort Madagascar?
- Madagascar lies close to the equator, so Mercator draws it at nearly its true size. It is the countries far from the equator that Mercator inflates.
- Does Madagascar have land borders?
- No. Madagascar has no land neighbours; every border is a coastline.