Madagascar

• most of population lives on the eastern half of the island;
• significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline as shown in this population distribution map

• periodic cyclones;
• drought;
• and locust infestation

volcanism:

Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times

• world's fourth-largest island;
• strategic location along Mozambique Channel;
• despite Madagascar’s close proximity to the African continent, ocean currents isolate the island resulting in high rates of endemic plant and animal species;
• approximately 90% of the flora and fauna on the island are found nowhere else

noun:

Malagasy (singular and plural)

adjective:

Malagasy

total:

21.3 years (2024 est.)

male:

21.1 years

female:

21.5 years

• most of population lives on the eastern half of the island;
• significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline as shown in this population distribution map

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.86 male(s)/female

total population:

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

37.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

40.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

34 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

68.8 years (2024 est.)

male:

67.3 years

female:

70.3 years

total:

0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

27.8% (2020 est.)

male:

42.7% (2020 est.)

female:

12.8% (2020 est.)

women married by age 15:

12.7%

women married by age 18:

38.8%

men married by age 18:

11.2% (2021 est.)

• erosion and soil degredation results from deforestation and overgrazing;
• desertification;
• agricultural fires;
• surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes;
• wildlife preservation (endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island)

urban population:

40.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

severe localized food insecurity:

• due to the effects of extreme weather events and slow economic recovery - in 2023, an estimated 2.2 million people are projected to face crisis levels of acute food insecurity in southern and southeastern areas, due to successive years of droughts;
• cyclone Freddy in February 2023 caused disruptions to livelihoods and resulted in crop damage, which further aggravated food insecurity (2023)

particulate matter emissions:

16.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

3.91 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

10.14 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal:

400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

160 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

13 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form:

Madagascar

local long form:

République de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara

local short form:

Madagascar/Madagasikara

former:

Malagasy Republic

etymology:

the name "Madageiscar" was first used by the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO, as a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu, the Somali port with which POLO confused the island

name:

Antananarivo

geographic coordinates:

18 55 S, 47 31 E

time difference:

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

the name, which means "City of the Thousand," was bestowed by 17th century King ADRIANJAKA to honor the soldiers assigned to guard the city

history:

previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010

amendments:

• proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership;
• passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum;
• constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar’s collectivities, cannot be amended

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

unknown

chief of state:

President Andry RAJOELINA (since 16 December 2023)

head of government:

Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments:

• president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
• election last held on 16 November 2023 (next to be held in November 2028);
• prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president

election results:

• 2023 : Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round;
• percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5%

;

• 2018 : Andry RAJOELINA elected president in second round;
• percent of vote in first round - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 39.2%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 35.4%, other 25.4%;
• percent of vote in second round - Andry RAJOELINA 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3%

highest court(s):

• Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only);
• High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members);
• High Court of Justice (consists of 11 members; addresses cases brought against the president of Madagascar and high officials for high treason, grave violations of the Constitution, or breach of duties incompatible with the exercise of the presidential mandate)

judge selection and term of office:

• Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms;
• High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates;
• members serve single, 7-year terms;
• High Court of Justice members include: first president of the Supreme Court;
• 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation;
• 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal;
• 2 deputies from the National Assembly;
• 2 senators from the Senate;
• 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law

subordinate courts:

• Courts of Appeal;
• Court of Cassation;
• Courts of First Instance;
• military courts;
• traditional (dina) courts;
• Trade Court

• Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP
• I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM
• Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD
• Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS
• Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY
• Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM
• Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao
• Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV

chief of mission:

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Amielle Pelenne NIRINIAVISOA MARCEDA (since 31 October 2019)

chancery:

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 265-5525

FAX:

[1] (202) 265-3034

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/

chief of mission:

Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)

embassy:

Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar

mailing address:

2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040

telephone:

[261] 33-44-320-00

FAX:

[261] 33-44-320-35

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://mg.usembassy.gov/

• two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side;
• by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity

name:

"Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)

lyrics/music:

Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA

note: adopted 1959

total World Heritage Sites:

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n);
• Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c);
• Atsinanana Rainforests (n)

• low-income East African island economy;
• natural resource rich;
• extreme poverty;
• return of political stability has helped growth;
• sharp tax revenue drop due to COVID-19;
• leading vanilla producer;
• environmentally fragile

agriculture:

21.1% (2023 est.)

industry:

14.9% (2023 est.)

services:

54.9% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

5.5% (2023 est.)

male:

5.4% (2023 est.)

female:

5.6% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

consumption:

511,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports:

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

imports:

511,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves:

150 million metric tons (2022 est.)

total subscriptions:

26,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:

(2022 est.) less than 1

general assessment:

• internet service is fast compared to other African countries, and telecom services in Madagascar have benefited from intensifying competition between the main operators;
• there have been positive developments with the country’s link to international submarine cables, particularly the METISS cable connecting to South Africa and Mauritius;
• in addition, the country’s connection to the Africa-1 cable, which arrived in 2023, provides links to Kenya, Djibouti, countries in north and south Africa, as well as Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and France;
• a national fiber backbone has been implemented connecting the major cities, however much of the fiber in country has been installed by Huawei, which also manages data centers for the government;
• in addition, the government has progressed with its five-year plan to develop a digital platform running to 2024;
• various schemes within the program have been managed by a unit within the President’s office;
• penetration rates in all market sectors remain below the average for the African region, and so there remains considerable growth potential;
• much progress was made in 2020, stimulated by the particular conditions related to the pandemic, which encouraged greater use of voice and data services (2022)

domestic:

less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 56 per 100 persons (2021)

international:

• country code - 261;
• landing points for the EASSy, METISS, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting to numerous Indian Ocean Islands, South Africa, and Eastern African countries;
• satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2019)

• state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach;
• privately owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns;
• state-run radio dominates in rural areas;
• relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo (2019)

number of registered air carriers:

4 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 18

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

541,290 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:

16.25 million (2018) mt-km

total:

836 km (2018)

narrow gauge:

836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

total ports:

13 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

2

very small:

11

ports with oil terminals:

5

key ports:

Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara

• 18-25 years of age for men and women;
• service obligation 18 months;
• no conscription;
• women are permitted to serve in all branches (2023)

• the PAF’s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar’s maritime domain, particularly against piracy, drug trafficking, and smuggling;
• it also assists the Gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, largely in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling, and criminal groups;
• the PAF has a history of having influence in domestic politics and a lack of accountability;
• members of the Army and the Gendarmerie were arrested for coup plotting as recently as 2021;
• its closest defense partners have been India and Russia;
• the PAF’s small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2023)

tier rating:

• Tier 2 Watch List — the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards;
• therefore, Madagascar was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year;
• for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/madagascar/