Country Guide

Madagascar Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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


Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:587,041 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 47
land:581,540 sq km
water:5,501 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona


Land boundaries:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath


Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south


Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Maromokotro 2,876 m


    Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:5.96%
permanent crops:1.02%
other:93.02% (2011)


Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
337 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
337 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation


Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island


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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective:Malagasy


Ethnic groups:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran


Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official), English


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


Population:
23,201,926 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 53


Age structure:
0-14 years:40.7% (male 4,765,523/female 4,685,298)
15-24 years:20.6% (male 2,394,146/female 2,384,564)
25-54 years:31.3% (male 3,635,506/female 3,629,204)
55-64 years:4.2% (male 466,263/female 503,375)
65 years and over:3.1% (male 334,533/female 403,514) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:81.4 %
youth dependency ratio:76.3 %
elderly dependency ratio:5.1 %
potential support ratio:19.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:19.2 years
male:19 years
female:19.4 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.62% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 25


Birth rate:
33.12 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 33


Death rate:
6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 135


Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 87


Urbanization:
urban population:32.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.73% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
ANTANANARIVO (capital) 1.987 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.83 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.5


Maternal mortality rate:
240 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:44.88 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 48
male:48.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female:40.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:65.2 yearscountry comparison to the world: 174
male:63.77 years
female:66.67 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
4.28 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 33


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
39.9% (2008/09)


Health expenditures:
4.1% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2007)


Hospital bed density:
0.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 78.2% of population
rural: 35.4% of population
total: 49.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 21.8% of population
rural: 64.6% of population
total: 50.4% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 19.2% of population
rural: 11.3% of population
total: 13.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 80.8% of population
rural: 88.7% of population
total: 86.1% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 73


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
58,800 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 57


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
6,200 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 32


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2008)country comparison to the world: 187


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
36.8% (2004)country comparison to the world: 6


Education expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2012)country comparison to the world: 150

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:64.5%
male:67.4%
female:61.6% (2009 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:10 years
male:11 years
female:10 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:2.3%country comparison to the world: 145
male:1.7%
female:2.8% (2005)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form:Madagascar
local long form:Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form:Madagascar/Madagasikara
former:Malagasy Republic


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Antananarivo
geographic coordinates:18 55 S, 47 31 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
Hi Trent,6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara


Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)


Constitution:
previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 (2012)


Legal system:
civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimana (since 25 January 2014)
head of government:Prime Minister Roger Laurent Christophe KOLO, M.D. (since 11 April 2014)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 December 2013 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results:Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA 53.5%, Jean Louis ROBINSON 46.5%
note:on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc RAVALOMANANA stepped down handing the government over to the military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA; a power-sharing agreement established a 15-month transition period to conclude with a general election in 2010, which failed to occur; a subsequent agreement aimed for an early 2013 election - the first round was held on 25 October 2013 and the second on 20 December 2013


Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (33 seats; 22 elected from each of the 22 regions; the remaining 11 appointed by the president; members to serve six-year terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (151 seats in the December 2013 election; reduced from 160 seats to 127 seats by an April 2007 national referendum - never used; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:National Assembly - last held on 20 December 2013 (next to be held in 2017); note - a power-sharing agreement in the summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in general elections scheduled for late 2013 after repeated delays
election results:National Assembly - percent of vote by party - Party of Andry Rajoelina 17.3%, Ravalomannana Movement 10.8%, Vondrona Politika 8.2%, independents and others 63.7%; seats by party - Party of Andry Rajoelina 49, the Ravalomannana Movement 20, Malagasy Miara Mianinga 13, independents 25, seats with delayed elections 4, other 40


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members)
note - the judiciary includes a High Court of Justice responsible for adjudicating crimes and misdemeanors by government officials including the president
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve single-renewable, 3-year terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 6-year terms
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal; provincial and city tribunals


    Political parties and leaders:
AVANA Party [Jean-Louis ROBINSON]
Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Manasse ESOAVELOMANDROSO]
Green Party or Parti Vert [Sarah Georget RABEHARISOA]
I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]
Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA]
Malagasy Miara-Miainga or MMM [Hajo ANDRIANAINARIVELO]
Malagasy Tonga Saina or MTS [Roland RATSIRAKA]
Movement for Democracy in Madagascar or MDM [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]
New Force for Madagascar of FIDIO [Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA]
Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]
Socialist and Democratic Party for the Unity of Madagascar or PSDUM [Jean LAHINIRIKO]
Union Party or Tambatra [Pety RAKOTONIAINA]
Young Malagasies Determined or TGV [Andry RAJOELINA]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR


International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Velotiana Rakotoanosy RAOBELINA (since 20 June 1011)
chancery:2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 265-5525 through 5526
FAX:[1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general:New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric WONG note - also accredited to Comoros
embassy:Lot 207A, Point Liberty, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo
mailing address:B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone:[261] (23) 480 00/01
FAX:[261] (23) 480 35


Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity


National anthem:
name:'Ry Tanindraza nay malala o' (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)

lyrics/music:Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
note:adopted 1959

Economy

Economy - overview:
After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s, Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization that has been undermined since the start of the political crisis. This strategy 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 boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US; however, Madagascar's failure to comply with the requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) led to the termination of the country's duty-free access in January 2010 and a sharp fall in textile production. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. The current political crisis, which began in early 2009, has dealt additional blows to the economy. Tourism dropped more than 50% in 2009 compared with the previous year, and many investors are wary of entering the uncertain investment environment. Growth was slow during 2010 to 2013 although expansion in mining and agricultural sectors is expected to contribute to more growth in 2014. International organizations and foreign donors are expected to resume development aid to Madagascar once RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA appoints a new government.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.03 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$21.47 billion (2012 est.)
$21.06 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.53 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
1.9% (2012 est.)
1.8% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
$1,000 (2012 est.)
$1,000 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
-3.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
-5.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
-7.2% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:84%
government consumption:12.7%
investment in fixed capital:14%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:24.7%
imports of goods and services:-35.3%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:27.3%
industry:16.4%
services:56.3% (2013 est.)


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


Industries:
meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism


Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Labor force:
9.504 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 50


Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.2%
highest 10%:34.7% (2010 est.)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.5 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 26
38.1 (1999)


Budget:
revenues:$2.113 billion
expenditures:$2.356 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
20.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
6.4% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 December 2010 est.)
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
44% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
56.25% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$1.839 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$1.492 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$3.163 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$2.357 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.663 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
$1.245 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$1.945 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
-$1.989 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$644.4 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$592.1 million (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, clothing, chromite, petroleum products


Exports - partners:
France 23.4%, China 6.6%, US 6.6%, Singapore 5.9%, Canada 5.5%, Germany 5.4%, Indonesia 5.3%, India 5.2%, South Africa 4.5% (2012)


Imports:
$2.794 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
$2.755 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food


Imports - partners:
China 17.7%, France 12.4%, South Africa 5.3%, India 5.1%, Mauritius 5%, Bahrain 4.7%, Kuwait 4.6% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.249 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$1.191 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$3.361 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$3.116 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -
2,227.8 (2013 est.)
2,195 (2012 est.)
2,090 (2010 est.)
1,956.2 (2009)
1,654.78 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
1.211 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143


Electricity - consumption:
1.126 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
430,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
65.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
34.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
17,480 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136


Refined petroleum products - exports:
365 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115


Refined petroleum products - imports:
12,120 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90


Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.01 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.843 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
143,700 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 138


Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.564 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 89


Telephone system:
general assessment:system is above average for the region; Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the late 1990s, but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is poorly developed
domestic:combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 40 per 100 persons
international:country code - 261; landing point for the EASSy, SEACOM, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2010)



    Broadcast media:
state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach; privately owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns; state-run radio dominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo (2007)


Internet country code:
.mg


Internet hosts:
38,392 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 102


Internet users:
319,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127

Transportation

Airports
83 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 66


Airports - with paved runways
total:26
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:16
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:57
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:38
under 914 m:
18 (2013)


Railways
total:854 kmcountry comparison to the world: 97
narrow gauge:854 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:34,476 kmcountry comparison to the world: 92
paved:5,613 km
unpaved:2,886 km (2010)


Waterways
600 km (432 km navigable) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 80


Merchant marine
total:1country comparison to the world: 156
by type:cargo 1
registered in other countries:1 (unknown 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear)

Military

Military branches
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie


Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for male-only voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation is 18 months for military or equivalent civil service; 20-30 years of age for National Gendarmerie recruits and 35 years of age for those with military experience (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:4,900,729
females age 16-49:4,909,061 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:3,390,071
females age 16-49:3,682,180 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:248,184
female:246,769 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
0.69% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 119
0.73% of GDP (2011)
0.69% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France); the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)


    Trafficking in persons



Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook