The population of Madagascar consists of 22 million people and the people inhabit it are known as the Malagasy people. There are 18 different ethnicities found throughout the country, some include the Bara, Betsileo, Tanala and the Merina, they are depicted below on the map in each of their respective territories. The dominant Merina group represent about five million people of the total population and they speak in the Malagasy dialect as well as in English and French. The Malagasy Merina langauge however is used primarily throughout their education system and is therefore more prominently used. The Merina population consist of mostly middle-class individuals and families and their economy is based on the cultivation of rice. cassava, potatoes, onions and the raising of livestock such as cattle and pigs.
The ariary is the currency used in Madagascar. One ariary is equivalent to 0.00035 US dollars.
