Languages & Currency of Madagascar

Official Languages:

• Malagasy – Austronesian; spoken by ~90% (national identity).
• French – legacy of colonization; government, education, business, media.

English is growing (tourism, trade); Arabic & Chinese in small communities.

Currency: Malagasy Ariary (MGA) – 1 ariary = 100 centimes (centimes obsolete in practice).

• Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 ariary.
• Notes: 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 ariary.
• USD/EUR widely accepted in tourist areas; exchange at banks/bureaus.

Malagasy is the daily language; French opens formal doors. Learn a few Malagasy phrases—locals appreciate it.