Madagascar

Republic of MadagascarRepublique de Madagascar

republicIndependence 26 June 1960 (from France)

Madagascar as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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

Position20 00 S, 47 00 E

Area587,040 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of

Populationas each edition published it

14.06 million July 1997 est. · 11.8m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.82% 1997 est. · 3.2% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

52.53 years 1997 est. · 53.52 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.83 children per woman 1997 est. · 6.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

92 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 97 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$880 1996 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.5% 1996 est. · 1% in 1993

Geography

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of | Mozambique

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Land useshare of 587,040 sq km

arable land 4%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 41%forests and woodland 40%other 14% (1993 est.)irrigated 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

587,040sq km

land: 581,540 sq kmwater: 5,500 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Coastline

4,828km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobathexclusive economic zone : 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

2,876m

Maromokotrolowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to :: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note

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

People

15 fields

Population

14,061,627

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 2.82% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

42.26Death

14.1Net migration

Religions

indigenous beliefs 52%Christian 41%Muslim 7%

Literacy

80%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: 88%female : 73% (1990 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 3,188,839; female 3,114,958) 15-64 years : 52% (male 3,608,508; female 3,680,574)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 228,230; female 240,518) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth :: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 52.53 years
male :: 51.4 years
female:: 53.7 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective:: Malagasy

Ethnic groups

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

Government

Republic; President Didier RATSIRAKA; Prime Minister Pascal RAKOTOMAVO (since 21 February 1997)

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National Assembly, 138 seats, elected 16 June 1993one dot, one seat

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

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form:: Madagascar
local long form:: Republique de Madagascar
local short form:: Madagascar
former:: Malagasy Republic

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary

Legal system

based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Didier RATSIRAKA;
(since 10 February 1997) note - President Albert ZAFY impeached by the High Constitutional Court on 5 September 1996;
Prime Minister Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY served as interim president until the election of President RATSIRAKA and then retired from the office of prime minister
head of government:: Prime Minister Pascal RAKOTOMAVO (since 21 February 1997)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002);
prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly
election results:: percent of the popular vote for president - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (UNDD) 49.3%;
percent of the National Assembly vote for prime minister - NA

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate or Senat (two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; members serve four-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (138 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: National Assembly - last held 16 June 1993 (next to be held 3 August 1997)
election results:: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8

note: the Senate has never been established because the regional assemblies have not been formed and are not expected to be formed before late in 1997, following a national referendum on a new constitution

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Committee of Living Forces or CFV, an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy or UNDD [Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY, president], Support Committee for Democracy and Development in Madagascar or CSDDM [Francisque RAVONY, president], Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD, Congress Party for Madagascar Independence-Renewal or AKFM-Fanavaozana [Richard ANDRIAMANJATO, president], and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and religious groups;
Association of United Malagasys or Famima [Didier RATSIRAKA, leader];
Confederation of Civil Societies for Development or CSCD [Guy Willy RAZANAMASY];
Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar or PMDM/MFM, formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA];
Rally for Social Democracy or RPSD [Evariste MARSON, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO
chancery:: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Vicki J. HUDDLESTON
embassy :: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address:: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
telephone:: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18

FAX

[261] (2) 234-539

Flag description

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

Economy

Madagascar suffers from chronic malnutrition, | underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual | population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied | by erosion.

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Real growth rate

3.5%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 3.8% (1993 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

47%

(1995 est.)

Labor force

4.9million

by occupation : agriculture 45,500, domestic service 29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250, service 15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.)

Note

note: 175,000 workers (3.6% of the total work force) earn money wages; 4,725,000 workers receive no monetary wage (of these, 91% are engaged in subsistence agriculture)

Debt - external

$4.4billion

(1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 33%industry 15%services 52% (1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$250 millionExpenditures

$265 million (1991 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $180 million

Economy - overview

Madagascar suffers from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 33% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings.

Industry features the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing. Growth in output in 1992-95 averaged only 1.4%, less than half the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform.

Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $12.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $880 (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism

Electricity - capacity

208,000 kW (1991)

Electricity - production

450 million kWh (1991)

Electricity - consumption per capita

36 kWh (1992)

Agriculture - products

coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Exports

total value:: $493 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)
partners :: France 41%, US, Japan, Italy (1995)

Imports

total value:: $612 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities :: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)
partners:: France 40%, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, US (1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $454 million (1992-96)

Currency

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 3,950 (November 1996), 3,974.9 (August 1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

96,000

(1988 est.)

Telephone system

system is above average for Africa

domestic:: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links
international:: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

2.565 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (repeaters 36)

Televisions

260,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

8 fields

Merchant marine, 10 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1996 est.)

cargo 4chemical tanker 1liquefied gas tanker 1oil tanker 2roll-on/roll-off cargo 2

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m : 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 21

Railways

total :: 883 km
narrow gauge:: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

Highways

total:: 49,837 km
paved:: 5,731 km
unpaved :: 44,106 km (1995 est.)

Waterways

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

Ports and harbors

Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Airports

105 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 47 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 45 (1996 est.)

Military

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

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Military expenditures - percent of GDP

(1994)

Military branches

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