2000 Edition

Background

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule.

Area

land

581,540 sq km

total

587,040 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

highest point

Maromokotro 2,876 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 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, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: 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%

forests and woodland

40%

other

14% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

1%

permanent pastures

41%

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, hydropower

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Age structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 3,504,562; female 3,481,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,964,564; female 4,052,056) 65 years and over: 3% (male 237,691; female 266,543) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

42.92 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

12.69 deaths/1,000 population (2000 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

85.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

57.26 years (2000 est.)

male

52.71 years

total population

54.95 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

73% (1990 est.)

male

88%

total population

80%

Nationality

adjective

Malagasy

noun

Malagasy (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

15,506,472 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

3.02% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.84 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

former

Malagasy Republic

local long form

Republique de Madagascar

local short form

Madagascar

Data code

MA

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Shirley E. BARNES

embassy

14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

mailing address

B. P. 620, Antananarivo

telephone

(2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO

consulate(s) general

New York

telephone

(202) 265-5525, 5526

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997)

election results

Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998)

FAX

(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, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle

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 Parliament 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

election results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AREMA 63, LEADER/Fanilo 16, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 32

elections

National Assembly - last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Political parties and leaders

Action, Truth, Development, and Harmony or AFFA ; Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA ; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana [Pastor Richard ANDRIAMANJATO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo ; Fihaonana Rally or Fihaonana ; Group of Reflection and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo ; Judged by Your Work or AVI ; Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM ; National Union for Development and Democracy or UNDD; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD

Political pressure groups and leaders

Federalist Movement; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$553 million

Currency

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$4.1 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$838 million (1997)

Economy - overview

Madagascar faces problems of 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 34% 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. Growth should be in the 5% range in 2000-01.

Electricity - consumption

698 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

750 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

33.33%

hydro

66.67%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 6,302.9 (October 1999), 5,877.81 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995)

Exports

$600 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)

Exports - partners

France 40%, US 9%, Germany 8%, Japan 6%, UK 6% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

34%

industry

12%

services

54% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $780 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)

Imports

$881 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities

intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)

Imports - partners

France 39%, Hong Kong 5%, Japan 5%, China, Singapore (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force

7 million (1995)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2 (plus 8 repeater stations), FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998)

Radios

3.05 million (1997)

Telephone system

system is above average for the region

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 - main lines in use

33,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

325,000 (1997)

Airports

133 (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

5,781 km

total

49,837 km

unpaved

44,056 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)

total

13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,819 GRT/34,173 DWT

Ports and harbors

Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Railways

narrow gauge

883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

total

883 km

Waterways

of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)

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 (FY94)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (FY94)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,525,754 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,092,308 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

149,157 (2000 est.)

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

MALAWI