Madagascar

Internet country code

.mg

Internet hosts

1,504 (2006)

Internet users

90,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Telephone system

general assessment: system is above average for the region domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links connect regions 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

66,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

504,700 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $703.6 million expenditures: $853 million; including capital expenditures of $331 million (2005 est.)

Currency (code)

Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Current account balance

$-438 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$4.6 billion (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.5 (2001)

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 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

767.7 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

825.4 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001)

Exports

$951 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 30.9%, US 30.3%, Germany 8.6% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.719 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$16.05 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 27.6% industry: 16.5% services: 55.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.1% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners

France 16.6%, China 10.6%, Iran 7.9%, Mauritius 6.5%, South Africa 5.9%, Hong Kong 5% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force

7.3 million (2000)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

89.27 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line

50% (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$572 million (2005 est.)

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

10,860 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 5.03% permanent crops: 1.02% other: 93.95% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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 deep isobath

Natural hazards

periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Antananarivo geographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara former: Malagasy Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEE embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101 mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56 FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002) 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 16 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%, Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%

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

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 3,542,797 females age 18-49: 3,551,447 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 2,218,662 females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 187,000 females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

7.2% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18 months (either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,171,821/female 4,158,288) 15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,809,173/female 4,900,675) 65 years and over: 3% (male 249,414/female 306,098) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

41.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

11.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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

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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live births male: 83.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 57.34 years male: 54.93 years female: 59.82 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.9% male: 75.5% female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

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 (2005)

Median age

total: 17.5 years male: 17.3 years female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

18,595,469 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

3.03% (2006 est.)

Religions

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

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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

Airports

116 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Merchant marine

total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,896 GRT/18,466 DWT by type: cargo 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Railways

total: 854 km narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways

total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)

Waterways

600 km (2005)