What is the area of Madagascar?
Madagascar covers 587,295 km². The island measures 1,580 km long by 580 km wide, making it the world's fourth-largest island after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo.
Dimensions of the Big Island
Madagascar spans 587,295 km², with impressive dimensions:
- Length: 1,580 km from north to south
- Width: 580 km from east to west
- Coastal perimeter: approximately 5,000 km of coastline
Global comparison
This area places Madagascar in the 4th position worldwide among the largest islands, behind Greenland (2.2 million km²), Papua New Guinea (786,000 km²) and Borneo (748,000 km²). It represents approximately the area of mainland France combined with that of the United Kingdom.
Key takeaway
This vastness explains the exceptional diversity of Malagasy landscapes: from the central highlands to tropical coasts, including the limestone formations of Tsingy and the deserts of the south.