Madagascar

republicIndependence 26 June 1960 (from France)

Madagascar as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 123 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAntananarivo
LocationSouthern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of
1994

Every edition of Madagascar

Populationas each edition published it
13.43 million July 1994 est. · 11.8m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.19% 1994 est. · 3.2% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 17.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 53.52 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.68 children per woman 1994 est. · 6.9 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
89 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 97 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$800 1993 est. · $200 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
1% 1992 est. · 1% in 1993

Geography

Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of | Mozambique

23 fields
Coastline
4,828km
land boundaries: 0 km
Irrigated land
9,000sq km
(1989 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of Mozambique

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

587,040 sq km

land area

581,540 sq km

comparative area

slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

International disputes

claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)

Climate

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Natural resources

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish

arable land

4%

permanent crops

1%

meadows and pastures

58%

forest and woodland

26%

other

11%

current issues

  • soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
  • desertification;
  • surface water contaminated with untreated sewage and other organic wastes;
  • several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

natural hazards

subject to periodic cyclones

international agreements

party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

People

22 fields
Population
13,427,758
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 3.19% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
45.22Death
13.35Net migration
0

Religions

indigenous beliefs 52%Christian 41%Muslim 7%
Labor force
4.9million
(90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence agriculture; 175,000 wage earners)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

89 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

53.98 years

male

52.06 years

female

55.96 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.68 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Malagasy (singular and plural)

adjective

Malagasy

Ethnic divisions

Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

total population

80%

male

88%

female

73%

by occupation

agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%, construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2%

note

51% of population of working age (1985)

Government

Republic

35 fields

Legislature, 138 seatsone dot, one seat

CFV coalition 76PMDM/MFM 16CSCD 11Famima 10RPSD 7various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10others 8

conventional long form

Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form

Madagascar

local long form

Republique de Madagascar

local short form

Madagascar

former

Malagasy Republic

Type

republic

Capital

Antananarivo

Administrative divisions

6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

chief of state

  • President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993);
  • election last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998);
  • results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD), 67%;
  • Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%

head of government

Prime Minister Francisque RAVONY (since 9 August 1993)

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament

Senate

  • (Senat) two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled by an electoral college made up of representatives of territorial collectivities;
  • the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment, following nomination by economic, social, and cultural groups;
  • the selection of senators was scheduled for March 1994

National Assembly

  • (Assemblee Nationale) elections last held on 16 June 1993 (next to be held June 1997);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (138 total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8

note

the National Assembly has suspended its operations during 1992 and early 1993 in preparation for new legislative elections. In its place, an interim High Authority of State and a Social and Economic Recovery Council have been established

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)

Political parties and leaders

  • Committee of Living Forces (CFV), an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD), Support Group for Democracy and Development in Madagascar (CSDDM), Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar (Grad), Congress Party for Madagascar Independence - Renewal (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other anti-Ratsiraka oppositon parties, trade unions, and religious groups;
  • leader Dr. Albert ZAFY;
  • Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar (PMDM/MFM; formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power), Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA;
  • Confederation of Civil Societies for Development (CSCD), Guy Willy RAZANAMASY;
  • Association of United Malagasys (Famima);
  • Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre TSIRANANA

Other political or pressure groups

National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission

Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO

chancery

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 265-5525 or 5526

consulate(s) general

New York

chief of mission

Ambassador Dennis P. BARRETT

embassy

14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

mailing address

B. P. 620, Antananarivo

telephone

[261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18

FAX

261-234-539

Flag

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Economy

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world.

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$800
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
1%
(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 5.2% (1990 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
External debt
$4.4billion
(1991)

Overview

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing;

in 1991 it accounted for only 13% of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports. Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $10.4 billion (1993 est.)

revenues

$250 million

expenditures

$265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$312 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)

commodities

coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products

partners

France, Japan, Italy, Germany, US

Imports

$350 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13%

partners

France, Germany, UK, other EC, US

capacity

125,000 kW

production

450 million kWh

consumption per capita

35 kWh (1991)

Industries

agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum

Agriculture

  • accounts for 31% of GDP;
  • cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa;
  • food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts;
  • cattle raising widespread;
  • almost self-sufficient in rice

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption

recipient

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.125 billion;
  • Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million

Currency

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,965.8 (January 1994), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990), 1,603.4 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

14 fields

Railroads

1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge

total

40,000 km

paved

4,694 km

unpaved

gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km; other earth 34,495 km (est.)

Inland waterways

of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes

Ports

Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara

Merchant marine

10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,620 GRT/33,173 DWT, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2

total

140

usable

105

with permanent-surface runways

30

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

3

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

37

Telecommunications

  • above average system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay, and troposcatter links;
  • submarine cable to Bahrain;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 1 (36 repeaters) TV

Defense Forces

Popular Armed Forces (including Intervention Forces, Development | Forces, Aeronaval Forces - including Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, | Presidential Security Regiment

3 fields

Branches

Popular Armed Forces (including Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - including Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 2,924,829;
  • fit for military service 1,739,830;
  • reach military age (20) annually 124,652 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1991 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Madagascar.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/madagascar/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →