Madagascar

Republic of MadagascarRepublique de Madagascar

republicIndependence 26 June 1960 (from France)

Madagascar as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 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

14.87 million July 1999 est. · 11.8m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.8% 1999 est. · 3.2% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

53.24 years 1999 est. · 53.52 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.7 children per woman 1999 est. · 6.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

89.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 97 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$730 1997 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1997 est. · 1% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

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

Geography--note

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

People

15 fields

Population

14,873,387

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 2.8% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

41.52Death

13.56Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)53.24

52.01 · 54.51

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1990 est.)80%

88% · 73%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

indigenous beliefs 52%Christian 41%Muslim 7%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056)
15-64 years:: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 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:: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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 (since 10 February 1997); Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.7%

-Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002)

Legislature, 150 seatsone dot, one seat

-AREMA 62LEADER/Fanilo 15AVI 14RPSD 11AFFA 6MFM 3AKFM/Fanavaozana 3GRAD/Iloafo 1Fihaonana 1independents 34

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, Toliara

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)
head of government:: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998)
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:: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms);
note--the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate;
two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote;
the remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president;
the total number of seats will be determined by the National Assembly;
all members will serve four-year terms

elections:: National Assembly--last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 34

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Association for the Rebirth of RAKOTONIRINA];
Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo RAZANAMASY]

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, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO
chancery:: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T. PERLOW
embassy:: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address:: B. P. 620, Antananarivo

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.

30 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$730

purchasing power parity? · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 3.8% (1993 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

4.5%

(1997)

Labor force

7million

(1995)

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 32%industry 13%services 55% (1997 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

31.7%

France

31.0%

15.8%

Japan

5.8%

Iran

9.1%

South Africa

8.2%

6.4%

Germany

5.7%

Reunion

5.0%

Exports $170 million (f.o.b., 1997)Imports $477 million (f.o.b., 1997)(1996)

Budget

Revenues

$477 millionExpenditures

$706 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $264 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 41.18%hydro 58.82%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

595 million (1996)Electricity consumption

595 million (1996)

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 32% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings.

Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than 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--$10.3 billion (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture--products

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

Exports

$170 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports--commodities

coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)

Imports

$477 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports--commodities

intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)

Debt--external

$4.4 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$298.5 million (1995)

Currency

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--5,468.5 (January 1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

34,000

(1994)

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

2.74 million (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (in addition, there are 36 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

280,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

8 fields

Merchant marine, 12 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

cargo 6chemical 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: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59

Networkskm

Highways

49,837Railways

883

Highways: paved: 5,781 km · unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

Railways

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

Highways

total:: 49,837 km
paved:: 5,781 km
unpaved:: 44,056 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)

Ports and harbors

Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Airports

133 (1998 est.)

Military

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

7 fields

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