1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 587,040 km2 land area: 581,540 km2 comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Coastline
4,828 km
Environment
subject to periodic cyclones; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
International disputes
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Irrigated land
9,000 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 58% forest and woodland: 26% other: 11%
Location
in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of Mozambique in Southern Africa
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Note
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
Terrain
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
People and Society
Birth rate
45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
13.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Infant mortality rate
91 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
4.9 million 90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence agriculture; 175,000 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%, construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2% note: 51% of population of working age (1985)
Languages
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 53.52 years male: 51.65 years female: 55.45 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73%
Nationality
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
13,005,989 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
3.2% (1993 est.)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Total fertility rate
6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary
Capital
Antananarivo
Constitution
12 September 1992
Digraph
MA
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-5525 or 5526 consulate general: New York
Executive branch
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
FAX
261-234-539
Flag
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Head of Government
Prime Minister Guy RAZANAMASY (since 8 August 1991)
Independence
26 June 1960 (from France)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Leaders
Chief of State: President Adm. Didier RATSIRAKA (since 15 June 1975)
Legal system
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral Popular National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire); note - the National Assembly has suspended its operations during 1992 and early 1993 in preparation for new legislative elections. In its place, an interim High Authority of State and a Social and Economic Recovery Council have been established
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar local short form: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Other political or pressure groups
National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM), leader NA; Federalist Movement, leader NA
Political parties and leaders
some 30 political parties now exist in Madagascar, the most important of which are Advance Guard of the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA), Didier RATSIRAKA; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence (AKFM), RAKOTOVAO-ANDRIATIANA; Movement for National Unity (VONJY), Dr. Marojama RAZANABAHINY; Malagasy Christian Democratic Union (UDECMA), Norbert ANDRIAMORASATA; Militants for the Establishment of a Proletarian Regime (MFM), Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; National Movement for the Independence of Madagascar (MONIMA), Monja JAONA; National Union for the Defense of Democracy (UNDD), Albert ZAFY
Popular National Assembly
last held on 28 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - AREMA 88.2%, MFM 5.1%, AKFM 3.7%, VONJY 2.2%, other 0.8%; seats - (137 total) AREMA 120, MFM 7, AKFM 5, VONJY 4, MONIMA 1
President
last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas BARRETT embassy: 14 and 16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 209-56, 200-89, 207-18
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice
Budget
revenues $250 million; expenditures $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991)
Currency
1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,125 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million
Electricity
125,000 kW capacity; 450 million kWh produced, 35 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,910.2 (December 1992), 1,867.9 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990), 1,603.4 (1989), 1,407.1 (1988), 1,069.2 (1987)
Exports
$312 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, sugar, petroleum products partners: France, Japan, Italy, Germany, US
External debt
$4.4 billion (1991)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption
Imports
$350 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% partners: France, Germany, UK, other EC, US
Industrial production
growth rate 5.2% (1990 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Industries
agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
20% (1992 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion (1992 est.)
National product per capita
$200 (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate
1% (1992 est.)
Overview
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 30% of GDP and contributing to more than 70% of total export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted for only 13% of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports. After mid-1991, however, output dropped sharply because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
total: 146 usable: 103 with permanent-surface runways: 30 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 36
Highways
40,000 km total; 4,694 km paved, 811 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil, 34,495 km improved and unimproved earth (est.)
Inland waterways
of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes
Merchant marine
11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,359 GRT/48,772 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas
Ports
Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara
Railroads
1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge
Telecommunications
above average system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay, and troposcatter links; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 1 (36 repeaters) TV
Military and Security
Branches
Popular Armed Forces (including Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - including Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1991 est.)
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 2,826,018; fit for military service 1,681,553; reach military age (20) annually 118,233 (1993 est.)