Madagascar

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 users

total: 1,151,563 | percent of population: 4.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Telephone system

general assessment: system is above average for the region; competition among the three mobile service providers has spurred recent growth in the mobile market | domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 45 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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 148,585 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 10,411,721 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.196 billion | expenditures: $1.604 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Central bank discount rate

8.3% (31 December 2016) | 8.7% (31 December 2015) | country comparison to the world: 38

Commercial bank prime lending rate

62% (31 December 2016 est.) | 60% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1

Current account balance

$75 million (2016 est.) | $-67.4 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Debt - external

$3.425 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $2.985 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Distribution of family income - Gini index

41 (2012) | 46.9 (2001) | country comparison to the world: 55

Economy - overview

Madagascar is a free market economy with many untapped natural resources, but no capital markets, a weak judicial system, poorly enforced contracts, and rampant government corruption. The economy faces long-term challenges to improve education, healthcare, and the environment. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing roughly 80% of the population. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by bushfire and the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. | After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s, Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization until the onset of a political crisis, which lasted from 2009 to 2013. The free market strategy had placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low starting point. Exports of apparel boomed after gaining duty-free access to the US in 2000; 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, a sharp fall in textile production, and a loss of more than 100,000 jobs. | Madagascar regained AGOA access in January 2015 following the democratic election of a new president the previous year. In November 2015, the IMF approved a Rapid Credit Facility to Madagascar worth about $42.1 million to help the government meet its balance of payments needs. The IMF judged that Madagascar had demonstrated satisfactory performance on macroeconomic performance and structural reforms, and in mid-2016 approved another $304 million extended credit facility for the country. GDP growth is expected around 2.8% per year in 2016-17, due to underperformance in agriculture.

Exchange rates

Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - | 3,176.5 (2016 est.) | 3,176.5 (2015 est.) | 2,933.5 (2014 est.) | 2,414.8 (2013 est.) | 2,195 (2012 est.)

Exports

$2.196 billion (2016 est.) | $2.185 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 23.5%, US 12.8%, Germany 8.3%, China 6.3%, Japan 5%, Netherlands 4.3%, South Korea 4.2% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$37.5 billion (2016 est.) | $35.54 billion (2015 est.) | $34.1 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 118

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 74.9% | government consumption: 12.1% | investment in fixed capital: 16.5% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 32.5% | imports of goods and services: -36% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 24% | industry: 15.7% | services: 60.2% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2016 est.) | $1,500 (2015 est.) | $1,500 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 219

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2016 est.) | 3.1% (2015 est.) | 3.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Gross national saving

16% of GDP (2016 est.) | 11.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | 15.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2% | highest 10%: 34.7% (2010 est.)

Imports

$2.857 billion (2016 est.) | $2.688 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Imports - commodities

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners

China 21.2%, France 6.9%, India 6.5%, UAE 5.6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, South Africa 5% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

4.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.7% (2016 est.) | 7.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187

Labor force

12.61 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

70.7% (2012 est.)

Public debt

42.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 35.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.184 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $832 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Stock of broad money

$1.793 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $2.243 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$6.461 billion (2014 est.) | $6.462 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Stock of domestic credit

$1.746 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.645 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Stock of narrow money

$849.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.375 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Taxes and other revenues

12.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Unemployment rate

2.1% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - consumption

1.402 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - from fossil fuels

73.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

24.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - installed generating capacity

m 668,200 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - production

1.508 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity access

population without electricity: 19,500,000 | electrification - total population: 15% | electrification - urban areas: 37% | electrification - rural areas: 4% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.01 billion cu m (1 January 2012 es) | country comparison to the world: 101

Refined petroleum products - consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,230 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Area

total: 587,041 sq km | land: 581,540 sq km | water: 5,501 sq km | country comparison to the world: 48

Area - comparative

almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Climate

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Coastline

4,828 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 615 m | 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, Ship Pollution, 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 (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 71.1% | arable land 6%; permanent crops 1%; permanent pasture 64.1% | forest: 21.5% | other: 7.4% (2011 est.)

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 isobath

Natural hazards

periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation | volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline

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 55 S, 47 31 E | time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Constitution

history: previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 | amendments: proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two-thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar’s collectivities cannot be amended (2017)

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 | etymology: the name "Madageiscar" was first used by the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO, as a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu, the Somali port with which POLO confused the island

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert T. YAMATE (since 14 January 2015); note - also accredited to Comoros | embassy: Lot 207A, Point Liberty, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo | mailing address: B.P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo | telephone: [261] 20 23 480 00 | FAX: [261] 20 23 480 35 or [261] 33 44 328 17

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Velotiana Rakotoanosy RAOBELINA (since 20 June 2011) | chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525 | FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034 | consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimana (since 25 January 2014) | head of government: Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly SOLONANDRASANA (since 13 April 2016); Prime Minister Jean RAVELONARIVO (since 17 January 2015) resigned 8 April 2016 | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 October and 20 December 2013 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president | election results: Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA (HVM) 53.5%, Jean Louis ROBINSON (AVANA) 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

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

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, 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

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description: bicameral; consists of the Senate or Antenimieran-Doholona (dissolved following the 2009 coup and reestablished in December 2015) (63 seats; 42 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of municipal, communal, regional, and provincial leaders and 21 appointed by the president of the republic; members serve 6-year terms)and the National Assembly or Antenimierampirenena (151 seats; 87 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 64 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: National Assembly - last held on 20 December 2013 (next to be held in 2017); Senate - last held 29 December 2015 (next to be held in 2021) | election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - MAPAR 17.3%, MR 10.8%, VPM MMM 8.2%, PHI 3.8%, AMHM 3.5%, LEADER-Fanilo 2.8%, FFF 1.6%, AIM 1.0%, SFN 0.3%, independent and other 50.6%; seats by party - MAPAR 49, MR 20, VPM MMM 13, PHI 5, AMHM 2, LEADER-Fanilo 5, FFF 2, AIM 2, SFN 2, other 22, independent 25, seats with delayed elections 4; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TIM 3, MAPAR 2, LEADER-Fanilo 1, independent 2; appointed by the President 21

National anthem

name: "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland) | lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA | note: adopted 1959

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

National symbol(s)

traveller's palm, zebu; national colors: red, green, white

Political parties and leaders

AVANA Party [Jean-Louis ROBINSON] | Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery/LEADER-Fanilo [Manasse ESOAVELOMANDROSO] | Green Party/Parti Vert or AMHM [Sarah Georget RABEHARISOA] | I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagaskara) or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA] | National Unity, Freedom, and Development or FFF [Benjamin RADAVIDSON Andriamparany] | New Forces for Madagascar (Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagaskara) or HVM [Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA] | Parti Hiaraka Isika or PHI [Albert Camille VITAL] | Pillar of Madagascar or AIM [Andry RAKOTOVAO] | Ravalomanana Movement or MR | Sambo Fiaran'i Noe or SFN | Union Party or Tambatra [Pety RAKOTONIAINA] | Vondrona Politika Miara dia Malagasy Miara Miainga or VPM MMM [Milavonjy ANDRIASY] | With the President Andry RAJOELIN (Miaraka Amin'ny Prezida Andry Rajoelina) or MAPAR [Andry RAJOELINA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR | Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN | National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Madagascar was one of the last major landmasses on earth to be colonized by humans. The earliest settlers from present-day Indonesia arrived between A.D. 350 and 550. The island attracted Arab and Persian traders as early as the 7th century, and migrants from Africa arrived around A.D. 1000. Madagascar was a pirate stronghold during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and served as a slave trading center into the 19th century. From the 16th to the late 19th century, a native Merina Kingdom dominated much of Madagascar. The island was conquered by the French in 1896 who made it a colony; independence was regained 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. RAVALOMANANA won a second term in 2006 but, following protests in 2009, handed over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. Following a lengthy mediation process led by the Southern African Development Community, Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA won a runoff election in December 2013 and was inaugurated in January 2014.

Military branches

People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, Navy, Air Force (2014)

Military expenditures

0.59% of GDP (2016) | 0.6% of GDP (2015) | 0.65% of GDP (2014) | 0.68% of GDP (2013) | 0.69% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 119

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for male-only mix of voluntary and conscripted military service; women are not conscripted but can volunteer for all services except the Navy; 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 (2017)

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.87% (male 5,035,160/female 4,952,909) | 15-24 years: 20.34% (male 2,556,130/female 2,538,644) | 25-54 years: 32.12% (male 4,022,698/female 4,025,038) | 55-64 years: 4.38% (male 535,300/female 560,932) | 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 374,770/female 452,580) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

31.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Contraceptive prevalence rate

39.9% (2008/09)

Death rate

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Demographic profile

Madagascar’s youthful population – just over 60% are under the age of 25 – and high total fertility rate of more than 4 children per women ensures that the Malagasy population will continue its rapid growth trajectory for the foreseeable future. The population is predominantly rural and poor; chronic malnutrition is prevalent, and large families are the norm. Many young Malagasy girls are withdrawn from school, marry early (often pressured to do so by their parents), and soon begin having children. Early childbearing, coupled with Madagascar’s widespread poverty and lack of access to skilled health care providers during delivery, increases the risk of death and serious health problems for young mothers and their babies. | Child marriage perpetuates gender inequality and is prevalent among the poor, the uneducated, and rural households – as of 2013, of Malagasy women aged 20 to 24, more than 40% were married and more than a third had given birth by the age of 18. Although the legal age for marriage is 18, parental consent is often given for earlier marriages or the law is flouted, especially in rural areas that make up nearly 65% of the country. Forms of arranged marriage whereby young girls are married to older men in exchange for oxen or money are traditional. If a union does not work out, a girl can be placed in another marriage, but the dowry paid to her family diminishes with each unsuccessful marriage. | Madagascar’s population consists of 18 main ethnic groups, all of whom speak the same Malagasy language. Most Malagasy are multi-ethnic, however, reflecting the island’s diversity of settlers and historical contacts (see Background). Madagascar’s legacy of hierarchical societies practicing domestic slavery (most notably the Merina Kingdom of the 16th to the 19th century) is evident today in persistent class tension, with some ethnic groups maintaining a caste system. Slave descendants are vulnerable to unequal access to education and jobs, despite Madagascar’s constitutional guarantee of free compulsory primary education and its being party to several international conventions on human rights. Historical distinctions also remain between central highlanders and coastal people.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 80.1 | youth dependency ratio: 75 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 | potential support ratio: 19.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 81.6% of population | rural: 35.3% of population | total: 51.5% of population | urban: 18.4% of population | rural: 64.7% of population | total: 48.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 150

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

0.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,600 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

31,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Health expenditures

3% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 181

Hospital bed density

0.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 41.2 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 45 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 37.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official), English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.3 years | male: 64.7 years | female: 67.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 64.7% | male: 66.7% | female: 62.6% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

Major urban areas - population

ANTANANARIVO (capital) 2.61 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

353 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Median age

total: 19.7 years | male: 19.5 years | female: 19.9 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.5 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008/09 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 179

Physicians density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

25,054,161 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Population distribution

most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline

Population growth rate

2.5% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Religions

Christian, indigenous religionist, Muslim

Sanitation facility access

urban: 18% of population | rural: 8.7% of population | total: 12% of population | urban: 82% of population | rural: 91.3% of population | total: 88% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years | male: 11 years | female: 10 years (2014)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.03 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 2.6% | male: 2.2% | female: 3% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Urbanization

urban population: 36.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 4.47% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

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)

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 246,842 (cyclone in 2017) (2017)

Airports

83 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 65

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 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 57 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 38 | under 914 m: 18 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5R (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 1 | by type: cargo 1 | registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 153

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 3 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 546,946 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30,512,607 mt-km (2015)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

total: 836 km | narrow gauge: 836 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 95

Roadways

total: 37,476 km | paved: 6,103 km | unpaved: 31,373 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 92

Waterways

600 km (432 km navigable) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 79