Living in Madagascar

Madagascar lies off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean and is separated from the mainland by the Mozambique Channel. Around 26.3 million people live on the large island in cities, coastal towns, and widely scattered villages. The highlands are characterized by rice fields, hilly landscapes, and cooler winters; the east receives heavy rainfall, the south is drier, and tropical cyclones can particularly reach the north and east. Many people live in houses made of bricks, wood, or locally available materials and get around on foot, by bicycle, bus, or taxi. Agriculture, trade, and crafts shape everyday life. Markets, music, festivals, and family visits are important meeting places. In Antananarivo, life is more densely populated and more strongly shaped by the service sector than in rural regions, where distances are longer and services more limited.