Country: Republic of Madagascar

Population: 21.3 million (UN, 2011 estimate)

Capital: Antananarivo

Area: 587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles)

Main languages: French (official), Malagasy (official), English

Main religions: Indigenous beliefs, Christianity

Life expectancy: 66 (WHO, 2011)

Literacy rate: Adult [15+] 64%, Youth [15-24] 65% (UNESCO, 2009)

Urban Population (% of total): 33.2% (UN, 2012)

Population under 18 years: 10.6 million (UNICEF, 2011)

Child mortality: 62 children in every 1,000 likely to die before 5 years (WHO, 2011)

Child nutrition: 49.2% of children below 5 years stunted* (WHO, 2005-2011) *No figure for underweight children available

Number of children (0-17) who have lost one/both parents: 910,000 (UNICEF, 2009)