Which island country's national language is Malagasy?

Madagascar is the island country whose national language is Malagasy. The country occupies the large island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, off Africa’s southeastern coast, along with several smaller islands.

Malagasy is spoken throughout the country and belongs to the Austronesian language family. That linguistic connection reflects the ancestry of early settlers who arrived from island Southeast Asia, despite Madagascar’s location near Africa. Malagasy vocabulary also includes influences from African, Arabic, and European languages.

Madagascar’s modern constitutional framework recognizes Malagasy and French as official languages. Malagasy is the principal language of everyday life and national identity, while French remains important in government, education, business, and international affairs.

The word “Malagasy” can refer both to the language and to the people of Madagascar. It is not the name of a separate nearby country, and “Madagascarian” is generally not the preferred demonym. The island is also famous for its extraordinary biodiversity, including lemurs and many species found nowhere else.