Madagascar (măd"ugăs'cär) [key], officially Democratic Republic of Madagascar, republic (2005 est. pop. 18,040,000), 226,658 sq mi (587,045 sq km), in the Indian Ocean, separated from E Africa by the Mozambique Channel. Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island. The country also claims several small islands including Juan de Nova, Europa, the Glorioso Islands, Tromelin, and Bassas da India. The capital and largest city is Antananarivo. The country is divided into six provinces.
