Madagascar is divided into 22 regions (faritra ). These formerly second-tier administrative divisions became first-level administrative divisions when the former six provinces were dissolved on 4 October 2009.
Regions of Madagascar Number on map Region's name Area (km2 ) Population (2018 Census)[1] Population density per km2 Capital Former province 1 Diana 19,266 889,736 36.3 Antsiranana Antsiranana 2 Sava 25,518 1,123,013 38.4 Sambava Antsiranana 3 Itasy 6,993 897,962 104.8 Miarinarivo Antananarivo 4 Analamanga 16,911 3,618,128 198.0 Antananarivo Antananarivo 5 Vakinankaratra 16,599 2,074,358 108.6 Antsirabe Antananarivo 6 Bongolava 16,688 674,474 27.4 Tsiroanomandidy Antananarivo 7 Sofia 50,100 1,500,227 24.9 Antsohihy Mahajanga 8 Boeny 31,046 931,171 25.8 Mahajanga Mahajanga 9 Betsiboka 30,025 394,561 9.8 Maevatanana Mahajanga 10 Melaky 38,852 309,805 7.5 Maintirano Mahajanga 11 Alaotra-Mangoro 31,948 1,255,514 32.1 Ambatondrazaka Toamasina 12 Atsinanana 21,934 1,484,403 57.9 Toamasina Toamasina 13 Analanjirofo 21,930 1,152,345 47.2 Fenoarivo Atsinanana Toamasina 14 Amoron'i Mania 16,141 833,919 44.3 Ambositra Fianarantsoa 15 Matsiatra Ambony 21,080 1,447,296 56.9 Fianarantsoa Fianarantsoa 16 Vatovavy 705,675 72.2 Mananjary Fianarantsoa 17 Atsimo-Atsinanana 18,863 1,026,674 47.6 Farafangana Fianarantsoa 18 Ihorombe 26,391 418,520 11.8 Ihosy Fianarantsoa 19 Menabe 46,121 700,577 12.8 Morondava Toliara 20 Atsimo-Andrefana 66,236 1,799,088 19.9 Toliara Toliara 21 Androy 19,317 903,376 38.0 Ambovombe-Androy Toliara 22 Anosy 25,731 809,313 26.1 Tôlanaro Toliara 23 Fitovinany 19,605 1,435,882 72.2 Manakara Fianarantsoa
Elections for the regional councils were held on 16 March 2008.[needs update ]