2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Age structure
0-14 years: 45.02% (male 3,607,803; female 3,587,532) 15-64 years: 51.77% (male 4,093,720; female 4,180,430) 65 years and over: 3.21% (male 239,839; female 273,239) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Airports
130 (2000 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: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 101 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 56 under 914 m: 43 (2000 est.) Madagascar Military
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
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. In 1997 in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. Madagascar Geography
Birth rate
42.66 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $553 million expenditures: $735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Capital
Antananarivo
Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Coastline
4,828 km
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
Currency
Malagasy franc (MGF)
Currency code
MGF
Death rate
12.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$4.4 billion (1999)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Shirley E. BARNES embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Zina ANDRIANARIVELO-RAZAFY chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
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 30% 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 prices, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. The extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants of future growth. For 2001, growth should again be about 5%.
Electricity - consumption
753.3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
810 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 37.04% hydro: 62.96% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
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, 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
Ethnic groups
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Exchange rates
Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,656.3 (November 2000), 6,283.8 (1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996)
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 November 2001); 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%
Exports
$538 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products
Exports - partners
France 41%, US 19%, Germany 13%, UK 8%, Japan 6% (1999)
FAX
[261] (20) 22-345-39
Fiscal year
calendar year Madagascar Communications
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side Madagascar Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 30% industry: 14% services: 56% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $800 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4.8% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Geography - note
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel Madagascar People
Government type
republic
Highways
total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.15% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
870 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
11,000 (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 36.7% (1993)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
Imports
$693 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities
intermediate manufactures, capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners
France 34%, Hong Kong 6%, China 6%, Japan 5%, Singapore 4% (1999)
Independence
26 June 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate
3% (2000 est.)
Industries
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism
Infant mortality rate
83.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10% (1999 est.)
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
Internet country code
.mg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
8,000 (2000) Madagascar Transportation
Irrigated land
10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle
Labor force
7 million (1999)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 40% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Languages
French (official), Malagasy (official)
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 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 63, LEADER/Fanilo 16, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 32
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 55.35 years male: 53.08 years female: 57.68 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73% (1990 est.) Madagascar Government
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
Merchant marine
total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,819 GRT/34,173 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 (2000 est.)
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) Madagascar Transnational Issues
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 3,640,554 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 2,159,767 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age
20 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 153,856 (2001 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Nationality
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy
Natural hazards
periodic cyclones
Natural resources
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Action, Truth, Development, and Harmony or AFFA [Professor Albert ZAFY]; Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [leader vacant]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Rally or Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY]; Group of Reflection and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo; Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA]; Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]; Tranobe (Big House) [Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Federalist Movement; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
Population
15,982,563 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
70% (1994 est.)
Population growth rate
3.02% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2 (plus 8 repeater stations), FM 7, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios
3.05 million (1997)
Railways
total: 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
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: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: 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
43,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
325,000 (1997)
Terrain
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Total fertility rate
5.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Waterways
note: of local importance only