Madagascar

Republic of MadagascarRepublique de Madagascar

republicIndependence 26 June 1960 (from France)

Madagascar as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 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 Mozambique

Populationas each edition published it

16.98 million July 2003 est. · 11.8m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.03% 2003 est. · 3.2% in 1993

Median ageyears

17.4 years 2002 · 20.5 yrs in 2025

Life expectancyyears at birth

56.14 years 2003 est. · 53.52 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.73 children per woman 2003 est. · 6.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

80.21 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 97 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$800 2002 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-11.9% 2002 est. · 1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 587,040 sq km

arable land 4.41%permanent crops 0.93%other 94.66% (1998 est.)irrigated 10,900 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

587,040sq km

water: 5,500 sq kmland: 581,540 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Coastline

4,828km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath

Highest point

2,876m

Maromokotrolowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references

Africa

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, hydropower

Natural hazards

periodic cyclones

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, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

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

People

19 fields

Population

16,979,744

(July 2003 est.)growth rate: 3.03% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth

42.16Death

11.88Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)56.14

53.82 · 58.53Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)80.21

88.63 · 71.53

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)68.9%

75.5% · 62.5%Median age years (2002)17.4

17.2 · 17.6

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

indigenous beliefs 52%Christian 41%Muslim 7%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3%

(2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 3,822,823; female 3,807,958)
15-64 years:: 51.9% (male 4,366,748; female 4,452,686)
65 years and over:: 3.1% (male 243,411; female 286,118) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.73 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

22,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

870 (2001 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

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Government

Republic; President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002); Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

40.89%

Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 40.89%Marc RAVALOMANANA 46.21%election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA November 2006)

National Assembly, 160 seats, elected 15 December 2002one dot, one seat

TIM 103FP 22AREMA 3LEADER/Fanilo 2RPSD 5others 3independents 22

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

Antananarivo

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government:: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA November 2006);
prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly
election results:: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 40.89%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 46.21%;
note - on 29 April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner by 51.5% after a recount;
RATSIRIKA's prime minister was put under house arrest on 27 May 2002, and SYLLA was appointed the new prime minister by President RAVALOMANANA

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 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 15 December 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results:: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD 5, others 3, independents 22

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle

Political parties and leaders

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [leader vacant];
Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO];
I Love Madagascar or TIM [leader NA];
National Union or FP [leader NA];
Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Federalist Movement; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA
consulate(s) general:: New York
FAX:: [1] (202) 483-7603
telephone:: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
chancery:: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy:: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address:: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone:: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX:: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Flag description

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

Economy

38 fields

Real growth rate

-11.9%

(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 3% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

7.4%

(2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.9%

(1998)

Population below poverty line

71%

(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 25%industry 12%services 63% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

34%

France

17.2%

24.6%

Iran

11%

Mauritius

10.6%

Bahrain

9.4%

Hong Kong

6.9%

Netherlands

5.9%

Germany

South Africa

5.9%

China

4.1%

Exports $700 million f.o.b. (2002)Imports $985 million f.o.b. (2002)(2002)

Budget

Revenues

$553 millionExpenditures

$735 million (1998 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 36.1%hydro 63.9%other 0% · nuclear 0%

Electricity production

830.2 million (2001)Electricity consumption

772.1 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of privatization and liberalization, which has placed the country on a slow and steady growth path. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for one-fourth of GDP and employing four-fifths of the population.

Export earnings primarily are earned in the small industrial sector, which features textile manufacturing and agriculture processing. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel are serious concerns. The separatist political crisis of 2002 undermined macroeconomic stability, with the estimated drop in output being subject to a wide margin of error. Poverty reduction will be the centerpiece of economic policy for the next few years.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $12.59 billion (2002)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.1 (1999)

Labor force

7.3 million (2000)

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (37257)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$700 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products

Imports

$985 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Debt - external

$4.6 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

$838 million (1997)

Currency

Malagasy franc (MGF)

Currency code

MGF

Exchange rates

Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,831.96 (2002), 6,588.49 (2001), 6,767.48 (2000), 6,283.77 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

63,100

(2000)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

55,000

(2000) · country code .mg

Telephone system

general assessment:: system is above average for the region
domestic:: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links connect regions
international:: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)