1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary
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
Airports
total: 140 usable: 105 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: 37
Area
total area: 587,040 sq km land area: 581,540 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Birth rate
45.22 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Popular Armed Forces (including Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - including Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Budget
revenues: $250 million expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991 est.)
Capital
Antananarivo
Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Coastline
4,828 km
Constitution
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Currency
1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Death rate
13.35 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1991 est.)
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(s) general: New York
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.125 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million
Electricity
capacity: 125,000 kW production: 450 million kWh consumption per capita: 35 kWh (1991)
Environment
current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with untreated sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered natural hazards: subject to periodic cyclones international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Ethnic divisions
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Exchange rates
Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,965.8 (January 1994), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990), 1,603.4 (1989)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993); election last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33% head of government: Prime Minister Francisque RAVONY (since 9 August 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
Exports
$312 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products partners: France, Japan, Italy, Germany, US
External debt
$4.4 billion (1991)
FAX
261-234-539
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Highways
total: 40,000 km paved: 4,694 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km; other earth 34,495 km (est.)
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
Independence
26 June 1960 (from France)
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
Infant mortality rate
89 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
20% (1992 est.)
Inland waterways
of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes
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 sq km (1989 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
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)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 58% forest and woodland: 26% other: 11%
Languages
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Legal system
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 53.98 years male: 52.06 years female: 55.96 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73%
Location
Southern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of Mozambique
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 2,924,829; fit for military service 1,739,830; reach military age (20) annually 124,652 (1994 est.)
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Merchant marine
10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,620 GRT/33,173 DWT, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
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 Assembly
(Assemblee Nationale) elections last held on 16 June 1993 (next to be held June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (138 total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8 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
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $10.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$800 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
1% (1992 est.)
Nationality
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Natural resources
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Note
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
Other political or pressure groups
National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement
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 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. Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform.
Political parties and leaders
Committee of Living Forces (CFV), an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD), Support Group for Democracy and Development in Madagascar (CSDDM), Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar (Grad), Congress Party for Madagascar Independence - Renewal (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other anti-Ratsiraka oppositon parties, trade unions, and religious groups; leader Dr. Albert ZAFY; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar (PMDM/MFM; formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power), Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development (CSCD), Guy Willy RAZANAMASY; Association of United Malagasys (Famima); Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre TSIRANANA
Population
13,427,758 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
3.19% (1994 est.)
Ports
Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara
Railroads
1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge
Religions
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Senate
(Senat) two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled by an electoral college made up of representatives of territorial collectivities; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment, following nomination by economic, social, and cultural groups; the selection of senators was scheduled for March 1994
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
Terrain
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Total fertility rate
6.68 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
republic
Unemployment rate
NA%
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis P. BARRETT embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18