1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

20 00 S, 47 00 E -- Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

land area

581,540 sq km

total area

587,040 sq km

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

international agreements

party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

periodic cyclones

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Geographic note

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

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%

forest and woodland

26%

meadows and pastures

58%

other

11%

permanent crops

1%

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

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

highest point

Maromokotro 2,876 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 3,105,958; female 3,034,279) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,499,021; female 3,573,052) 65 years and over: 3% (male 224,710; female 233,487) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

42.63 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

14.38 deaths/1,000 population (1996 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

93.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

53.3 years (1996 est.)

male

51.11 years

total population

52.19 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

female

73%

male

88%

total population

80%

Nationality

adjective

Malagasy

noun

Malagasy (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

13,670,507 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.83% (1996 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Sex ratio

all ages

1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

5.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Antananarivo

Constitution

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Data code

MA

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO

consulate(s) general

New York

telephone

[1] (202) 265-5525, 5526

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 10 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD) 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 33%

head of government

Prime Minister Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY (since 30 October 1995) was elected by the National Assembly

FAX

[261] (2) 234-539

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)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form

Madagascar

former

Malagasy Republic

local long form

Republique de Madagascar

local short form

Madagascar

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

elections last held 16 June 1993 (next to be held NA 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 of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Vicki J. HUDDLESTON

embassy

14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

mailing address

B. P. 620, Antananarivo

telephone

[261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18

Agriculture

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

Budget

expenditures

$265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991 est.)

revenues

$250 million

Currency

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $318 million (1993)

Economic overview

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 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 35% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; it accounts for 15% 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 export, 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.

Electricity

capacity

220,000 kW

consumption per capita

40 kWh (1993)

production

560 million kWh

Exchange rates

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 4,239.5 (November 1995), 3,067.3 (1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991)

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

35%

industry

15%

services

50% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita

$820 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.7% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

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.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

35% (1994 est.)

Labor force

total workers

4.9 million

wage earners

175,400 (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.)

workers not receiving money wages

4.7 million (96% of total labor force); note - 4.3 million workers are in subsistence agriculture

Unemployment rate

NA%

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 - $29 million, 1.0% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

3,103,022

males fit for military service

1,843,732

males reach military age (20) annually

132,146 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

2.565 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

system is above average for Africa

domestic

open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links

international

submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Telephones

96,000 (1988 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (repeaters 36)

Televisions

260,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

105

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

3

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

21

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

31

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

45 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

5,352 km

total

34,750 km

unpaved

29,398 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

total

11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,132 GRT/31,261 DWT

Ports

Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliaria

Railways

narrow gauge

883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

total

883 km

Waterways

of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes