2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,051,832/female 4,038,837) 15-64 years: 52.1% (male 4,657,346/female 4,745,971) 65 years and over: 3% (male 247,146/female 299,209) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

116 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2004 est.) Military Madagascar

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

Background

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, 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. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. Geography Madagascar

Birth rate

41.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.079 billion, including capital expenditures of $331 million (2004 est.)

revenues

$783.7 million

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

former

Malagasy Republic

local long form

Republique de Madagascar

local short form

Madagascar

Currency (code)

Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Currency code

MGF

Current account balance

$-281.9 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

11.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$4.6 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT

embassy

14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101

FAX

[261] (20) 22-345-39

mailing address

B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo

telephone

[261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 483-7603

telephone

[1] (202) 265-5525, 5526

Disputes - international

claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.1 (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$354 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy has placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the United States. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.

Electricity - consumption

781.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

840.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

36.1%

hydro

63.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 - 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001), 1,353.5 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)

election results

percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held November 2006); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)

Exports

$868.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products

Exports - partners

US 35.8%, France 30.8%, Germany 7.7% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Madagascar

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

29.3%

industry

16.7%

services

54% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$14.56 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

5,780 km

total

49,827 km

unpaved

44,047 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

7,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

140,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 29% (1999)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$1.147 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners

France 17.2%, China 9.7%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Iran 6.4%, Mauritius 6.2%, South Africa 5.6% (2004)

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

female

68.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

85.05 deaths/1,000 live births

total

76.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.5% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.mg

Internet hosts

773 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

70,500 (2003) Transportation Madagascar

Investment (gross fixed)

14.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

10,900 sq km (2000 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

7.3 million (2000)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

5.07%

other

93.91% (2001)

permanent crops

1.03%

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

bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-year terms)

election results

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD 5, others 3, independents 22

elections

National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

59.4 years (2005 est.)

male

54.57 years

total population

56.95 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

62.5% (2003 est.) Government Madagascar

male

75.5%

total population

68.9%

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and plague are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 3,542,797 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 2,218,662 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

187,000 (2005 est.)

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

Median age

female

17.67 years (2005 est.)

male

17.24 years

total

17.46 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 5, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2

registered in other countries

1 (2005)

total

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWT

Military branches

People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and Aeronaval (Navy and Air) Force; National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$44.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (2004) Transnational Issues Madagascar

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Nationality

adjective

Malagasy

noun

Malagasy (singular and plural)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Natural resources

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Political parties and leaders

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

Population

18,040,341 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

3.03% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios

3.05 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

732 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

total

732 km

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$500.3 million (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

system is above average for the region

international

country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use

59,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

279,500 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

325,000 (1997)

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Total fertility rate

5.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Waterways

600 km (2004)