Madagascar ranks among the 130 top exporters, shipping an estimated US$2.2 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2016.
Highest-value Malagasy exports include raw nickel, vanilla, apparel, cloves, frozen shrimps and cobalt according to the International Trade Centre.
Capital Facts for Antananarivo, Madagascar: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Rova Palace of the Queen, Andohalo Catholic Cathedral and the Croc Farm
Famous People
Below, you will find 10 of the most famous people born in Antananarivo, Madagascar:
- John van Lottum, professional tennis player (born Apr. 10, 1976)
- Nirina Zubir, award-winning actress (born Mar. 12, 1980)
- Natacha Randriantefy, professional tennis player (born March 14, 1978)
- Naina Ravaoarisoa, Olympic judoka (born Jul. 29, 1976)
- Madagascar Slim, folk & blues guitarist (born Oct. 31, 1956)
- Jean-Chrysostome Raharison, soccer goaltender (born Aug. 23, 1979)
- Andry Rajoelina, former mayor (born May 30, 1974)
- Zarah Razafimahatratra, world-ranked tennis player (born Aug. 24, 1994)
- Nicole Ramalalanirina, Olympic hurdler (born Mar. 5, 1972)
- Claude Simon, French novelist (born Oct. 10, 1913)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches mostly targeting published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for a Madagascar resident: Malagasy
Population: 2,610,000 (Antananarivo built-up urban area)
Density: 30,706 people per square mile (11,856 per square kilometer)
Population: 3,600,000 (Analamanga region)
Density: 551 people per square mile (213 per square kilometer)
Population: 24,430,325 (Madagascar)
Density: 109 people per square mile (42 per square kilometer)
Financial
GDP: US$35.4 billion for 2015 (for Madagascar, per CIA World Factbook)
GDP per person: $1,500
Note: The above country-level GDP metrics are on a Purchasing Power Parity basis and are in U.S. dollars. Credible city GDP statistics for Antananarivo were unavailable.
Official currency used in Antananarivo: Malagasy ariary
Research
Research Sources:
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data). Accessed on December 2, 2016
Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook, Africa: Madagascar. Accessed on February 16, 2017
Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook, Field Listing: Major Urban Areas. Accessed on December 2, 2016
CityMetric, Where are largest cities in the world? 2015 edition. Accessed on December 2, 2016
Demographia, World Urban Area, 12th Annual Edition. Accessed on December 2, 2016
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 16, 2017
Official Government Website, Antananarivo Town Hall. Accessed on December 2, 2016
Wikimedia Commons, City Flags. Accessed on December 2, 2016
Note: Some city flags were unavailable. If so, attribution belongs to Wikimedia Commons for pertinent country flags.
Wikipedia, Analamanga region. Accessed on December 2, 2016
Wikipedia, Antananarivo. Accessed on December 2, 2016
Wikipedia, Madagascar. Accessed on February 16, 2017
The capital city plus its surrounding metropolitan area occupy 85 square miles (220 square kilometers), and is named Antananarivo-Renivohitra (alternatively called Antananarivo-Mother Hill or Antananarivo-Capital). In 2015, the population for Antananarivo’s built-up urban area was an estimated 2.6 million inhabitants.
Antananarivo’s built-up urban area serves as the capital for the vast Analamanga region, which spans 6,529 square miles (16,911 square kilometers) in central Madagascar. The Analamanga region has an estimated population of approximately 3.6 million people.
At the country level, Madagascar’s land area covers 224,534 square miles (581,540 square kilometers). The national population count was 24.4 million inhabitants as of July 2016.
Population density is much more intense within Madagascar’s capital city with an average 30,700 inhabitants per square mile (11,900 per square kilometer).
Density drops drastically to an average 551 people per square mile (213 per square kilometer) for the Analamanga region in central Madagascar.
For Madagascar overall, population density drops to an average 109 inhabitants per square mile (42 per square kilometer).
Madagascar separated from France on June 26, 1960. Residents celebrate Independence Day as a public holiday each June 26.