Madagascar

Madagascar 

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

4,828 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

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

Climate

Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain

Narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

9,000 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

Note: World's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

PEOPLE

Population

13,670,507 (July 1996 est.)
13,862,325 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

45% (male 3,105,958; female 3,034,279) (July 1996 est.)
47% (male 3,265,715; female 3,231,647) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

52% (male 3,499,021; female 3,573,052) (July 1996 est.)
50% (male 3,413,564; female 3,511,699) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

3% (male 224,710; female 233,487) (July 1996 est.)
3% (male 214,495; female 225,205) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.83% (1996 est.)
3.18% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

42.63 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
44.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

14.38 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
12.99 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

93.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
86.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

5.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)
6.62 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor Force

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

MA

Type

Republic

Capital

Antananarivo

Administrative Divisions

6 provinces; Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal System

Based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament

Senate (Senat)

Two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; decentralization and formation of regional assemblies is not expected before 1997

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Elections last held on 16 June 1993 (next to be held June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (138 total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)

Political Parties and Leaders

Committee of Living Forces (CFV), an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD), Support Group for Democracy and Development in Madagascar (CSDDM), Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar (GRAD), Congress Party for Madagascar Independence - Renewal (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and religious groups; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar (PMDM/MFM), formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power, Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development (CSCD), Guy Willy RAZANAMASY; Association of United Malagasys (Famima); Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre TSIRANANA

Other Political or Pressure Groups

National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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

ECONOMY

Overview

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering from 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 35% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; it accounts for 15% of GDP. In 1986, the government introduced a five-year development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for export, and reduced energy imports. Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform. Since 1993, corruption and political instability have caused the economy and infrastructure to decay further. Since April 1994, the government commitment to economic reforms has been erratic. Enormous obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $11.4 billion (1995 est.), $10.6 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

2.7% (1995 est.)
2.8% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$820 (1995 est.)
$790 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

35% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Budget

Exports

$240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$4.3 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 3.8% (1993 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice

Illicit Drugs

Illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption

Economic Aid

Currency

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Exchange Rates

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 4,239.5 (November 1995), 3,067.3 (1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Inland Waterways

Of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes

Ports

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Port Saint-Louis, Toamasina, Toliaria

Merchant Marine

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

96,000 telephones (1988 est.); above average system to African standards

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 3,103,022; males fit for military service 1,843,732; males reach military age (20) annually 132,146 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.0% of GDP (1994), $35 million, 1.3% of GDP (1991)

History
World Atlas