Madagascar

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule.

• 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

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

Law of the Sea

0-14 years:

45% (male 3,504,562; female 3,481,056)

15-64 years:

52% (male 3,964,564; female 4,052,056)

65 years and over:

3% (male 237,691; female 266,543) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.89 male(s)/female

total population:

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Malagasy (singular and plural)

adjective:

Malagasy

conventional long form:

Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form:

Madagascar

local long form:

Republique de Madagascar

local short form:

Madagascar

former:

Malagasy Republic

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%

• 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 Parliament 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 63, LEADER/Fanilo 16, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 32

• Action, Truth, Development, and Harmony or AFFA [Professor Albert ZAFY];
• Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO];
• Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana [Pastor Richard ANDRIAMANJATO];
• Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO];
• Fihaonana Rally or Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY];
• Group of Reflection and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo [Tovonanahary RABETSITONTA];
• Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA];
• Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA];
• National Union for Development and Democracy or UNDD;
• Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO

chancery:

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 265-5525, 5526

consulate(s) general:

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Shirley E. BARNES

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) 345-39

lowest 10%:

2.3%

highest 10%:

34.9% (1993)

total:

883 km

narrow gauge:

883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

total:

49,837 km

paved:

5,781 km

unpaved:

44,056 km (1996 est.)

total:

13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,819 GRT/34,173 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)

• illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption;
• transshipment point for heroin [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]