1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 587,040 sq km land area: 581,540 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Coastline
4,828 km
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 natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
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.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 58% forest and woodland: 26% other: 11%
Location
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath 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
Age structure
0-14 years: 47% (female 3,231,647; male 3,265,715) 15-64 years: 50% (female 3,511,699; male 3,413,564) 65 years and over: 3% (female 225,205; male 214,495) (July 1995 est.)
Birth rate
44.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
12.99 deaths/1,000 population (1995 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
86.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
total workers: 4.9 million workers not receiving money wages: 4.7 million (96% of total labor force); note - 4.3 million workers are in subsistence agriculture wage earners: 175,000 (3.6% of total work force) wage earners by occupation: agriculture 45,500, domestic service 29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250, service 15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.)
Languages
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 54.45 years male: 52.47 years female: 56.48 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73%
Nationality
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
13,862,325 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
3.18% (1995 est.)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Total fertility rate
6.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
6 provinces; Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary
Capital
Antananarivo
Constitution
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Digraph
MA
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 consulate(s) general: New York
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
FAX
[261] (2) 345-39
Flag
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Independence
26 June 1960 (from France)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Legal system
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIH, 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 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
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Other political or pressure groups
National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement
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 parties, trade unions, and religious groups; 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
Senate (Senat)
two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; decentralization and formation of regional assemblies is not expected before 1997
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Type
republic
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
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 est.)
Currency
1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
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: 220,000 kW production: 560 million kWh consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 3,718.0 (November 1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990)
Exports
$240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products partners: France, US, Germany, Japan, Russia
External debt
$4.3 billion (1993 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption
Imports
$510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% partners: France, Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Netherlands
Industrial production
growth rate 3.8% (1993 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)
35% (1994 est.)
National product
GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (1994 est.)
National product per capita
$790 (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate
2.8% (1994 est.)
Overview
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. 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. Since 1993, corruption and political instability have caused the economy and infrastructure to decay further. Since April 1994, the government commitment to economic reforms has been erratic. Enormous obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
NA telephones; above average system local: NA intercity: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; 1 earth station for Indian Ocean INTELSAT
Television
broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 36) televisions: NA
Transportation
Airports
total: 138 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21 with paved runways under 914 m: 42 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 64
Highways
total: 40,000 km paved: 4,694 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km; other earth 34,495 km (est.)
Inland waterways
of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes
Merchant marine
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,261 GRT/28,193 DWT ships by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2
Ports
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Port Saint-Louis, Toamasina, Toliaria
Railroads
total: 1,020 km narrow gauge: 1,020 km 1.000-m gauge
Military and Security
Branches
Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $35 million, 1.3% of GDP (1991) ________________________________________________________________________ MALAWI
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 3,027,156; males fit for military service 1,800,127; males reach military age (20) annually 130,071 (1995 est.)