Madagascar

Branches

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

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.0% of GDP (1994)

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.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

2.565 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

system is above average for Africa domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Telephones

96,000 (1988 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (repeaters 36)

Televisions

260,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Agriculture

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

Budget

revenues: $250 million expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991 est.)

Currency

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $318 million (1993)

Economic 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.

Electricity

capacity: 220,000 kW production: 560 million kWh consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1993)

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)

Exports

$240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products partners: France, US, Germany, Japan, Russia

External debt

$4.3 billion (1993 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: 35% industry: 15% services: 50% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita

$820 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.7% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

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

Imports

$510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% partners: France, Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Netherlands

Industrial production growth rate

3.8% (1993 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

35% (1994 est.)

Labor force

total workers: 4.9 million workers not receiving money wages: 4.7 million (96% of total labor force); note - 4.3 million workers are in subsistence agriculture wage earners: 175,400 (3.6% of total work force) wage earners by occupation: agriculture 45,500, domestic service 29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250, service 15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total area: 587,040 sq km land area: 581,540 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Climate

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Coastline

4,828 km

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 natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Geographic note

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

International disputes

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

Irrigated land

9,000 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 58% forest and woodland: 26% other: 11%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Antananarivo

Constitution

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Data code

MA

Diplomatic representation in US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 10 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD) 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 33% head of government: Prime Minister Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY (since 30 October 1995) was elected by the National Assembly cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister

FAX

[261] (2) 234-539

Flag

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

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament

Name of country

conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar local short form: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

elections last held 16 June 1993 (next to be held NA 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Other political or pressure groups

National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki J. HUDDLESTON embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18

Age structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 3,105,958; female 3,034,279) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,499,021; female 3,573,052) 65 years and over: 3% (male 224,710; female 233,487) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.19 years male: 51.11 years female: 53.3 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73%

Nationality

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy

Net migration rate

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

Population

13,670,507 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.83% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports

total: 105 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 21 with paved runways under 914 m: 31 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 45 (1995 est.)

Highways

total: 34,750 km paved: 5,352 km unpaved: 29,398 km (1991 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,132 GRT/31,261 DWT ships by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Ports

Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliaria

Railways

total: 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

Waterways

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