1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 587,040 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km
Area-comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Coastline
4,828 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
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
Environment-international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Geography-note
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
Irrigated land
10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 40% other: 14% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
periodic cyclones
Natural resources
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Terrain
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 45% (male 3,272,236; female 3,196,565) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,722,459; female 3,792,178) 65 years and over: 3% (male 231,582; female 247,489) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
41.89 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
13.83 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
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
90.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 52.88 years male: 51.7 years female: 54.1 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73% (1990 est.)
Nationality
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
14,462,509 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
2.81% (1998 est.)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Sex ratio
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: 0.93 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.76 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary
Constitution
19 August 1992 by national referendum
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar local short form: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic
Data code
MA
Executive branch
chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Pascal RAKOTOMAVO (since 21 February 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly election results: percent of the popular vote for president-Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (UNDD) 49.3%; percent of the National Assembly vote for prime minister-NA
FAX
[261] (2) 345-39
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Government type
republic
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, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T. PERLOW embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle) Political parties and leaders: Committee of Living Forces or CFV, an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy or UNDD [Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY, president], Support Committee for Democracy and Development in Madagascar or CSDDM [Francisque RAVONY, president], Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD, Congress Party for Madagascar Independence-Renewal or AKFM-Fanavaozana [Richard ANDRIAMANJATO, president], and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and religious groups; Association of United Malagasys or Famima [Didier RATSIRAKA, leader]; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development or CSCD [Guy Willy RAZANAMASY]; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar or PMDM/MFM, formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA]; Rally for Social Democracy or RPSD [Evariste MARSON, president] Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement
Legal system
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (138 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Senate or Senat (two-thirds of Senate seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; members serve four-year terms); note-the establishment of the Senate has been indefinitely postponed; the total number of seats in the Senate will be determined by the National Assembly elections: National Assembly-last held 16 June 1993 (next to be held May 1998) election results: National Assembly-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8
National capital
Antananarivo
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Budget
revenues: $477 million expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264 million (1996 est.)
Currency
1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes
Debt-external
$4.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $454 million (1992-96)
Economy-overview
Madagascar suffers 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 33% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.
Electricity-capacity
220,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
43 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
595 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1-5,302.9 (December 1997), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994), 1,913.8 (1993)
Exports
total value: $493 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.) partners: France 41%, US, Japan, Italy (1995)
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$10.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 33% industry: 15% services: 52% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$730 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
3% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $612 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.) partners: France 40%, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, US (1995)
Industrial production growth rate
3.8% (1993 est.)
Industries
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism
Inflation rate-consumer price index
19.8% (1996)
Labor force
NA
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.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Transportation
Airports
136 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 30 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 106 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 42 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,624 GRT/28,621 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1997 est.)
Railways
total : 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
Waterways
of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Military and Security
Military branches
Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces-includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$29 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
1% (1994)
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 3,308,300 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,964,545 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-military age
20 years of age
Military manpower-reaching military age annually
males: 140,429 (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin