Madagascar’s population is a mix of ethnic groups from various regions, including the Far East, Africa, India, Arabia, and Europe. Today, the Malagasy people are composed of 18 ethnic groups and number more than 20 million inhabitants. The most populous ethnic groups include the Merina and Betsileo in the central region, the Bara and Antandroy in the south, the Betsimisaraka in the east, and the Sakalava in the west.