1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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 deep 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 3,356,104; female 3,279,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209) 65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
41.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 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
89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 53.24 years male: 52.01 years female: 54.51 years (1999 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 (1999 est.)
Population
14,873,387 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.8% (1999 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: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Capital
Antananarivo
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 Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998) 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: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%
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, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, 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 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T. PERLOW embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle) Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth of RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo RAZANAMASY] 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
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note--the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president; the total number of seats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms elections: National Assembly--last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 34
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
$298.5 million (1995)
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 32% 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--consumption
595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
595 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 41.18% hydro: 58.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--5,468.5 (January 1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994)
Exports
$170 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities
coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)
Exports--partners
France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%, Reunion 5.7% (1996)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$10.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 32% industry: 13% services: 55% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$730 (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)
Imports
$477 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities
intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)
Imports--partners
France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%, Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)
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 prices)
4.5% (1997)
Labor force
7 million (1995)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
2.74 million (1994 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
34,000 (1994)
Television broadcast stations
1 (in addition, there are 36 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
280,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Airports
133 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 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 Lakandranon' Ampangalana (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: 3,415,726 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
20 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 144,779 (1999 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