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: 17 million | percent of population: 73.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 250,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 9 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.375 billion | expenditures: $2.741 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Central bank discount rate

5% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 75

Commercial bank prime lending rate

61% (31 December 2014 est.) | 58.98% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 1

Current account balance

-$240 million (2014 est.) | -$1.714 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Debt - external

$3.63 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.282 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.5 (2001) | 38.1 (1999) | country comparison to the world: 25

Economy - overview

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 2009-2013 . The free market strategy had previously 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. 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 the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. Many investors remain wary of investing for fear of a return to political instability in the country and because of weaknesses in the business environment. Expansion in mining and agricultural sectors contributed to growth in 2014. International organizations and foreign donors resumed development aid to Madagascar after RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA appointed a new government in mid-2014, however full-scale assistance will require further policy reforms, particularly on addressing rampant corruption.

Exchange rates

Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - | 2,393.5 (2014 est.) | 2,206.9 (2013 est.) | 2,195 (2012 est.) | 2,025.1 (2011 est.) | 2,090 (2010 est.)

Exports

$864.8 million (2014 est.) | $721.2 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 17.7%, US 8.8%, Belgium 6.8%, Netherlands 6.4%, South Africa 5.7%, Japan 5.4%, South Korea 5%, China 4.8%, Germany 4.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.6 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$33.87 billion (2014 est.) | $32.89 billion (2013 est.) | $32.11 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 120

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 84.1% | government consumption: 13.3% | investment in fixed capital: 15.9% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 30.1% | imports of goods and services: -43.3% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 28.1% | industry: 17.4% | services: 54.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,400 (2014 est.) | $1,400 (2013 est.) | $1,400 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 218

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2014 est.) | 2.4% (2013 est.) | 3% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Gross national saving

12.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 10.4% of GDP (2013 est.) | 10.8% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$2.742 billion (2014 est.) | $2.681 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Imports - commodities

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners

China 20.6%, France 10.6%, Algeria 6.3%, India 5.4%, Bahrain 5%, Mauritius 4.6%, South Africa 4.2%, Kuwait 4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.1% (2014 est.) | 5.8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Labor force

12.15 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

50% (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.005 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $905.1 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Stock of broad money

$2.787 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.494 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.822 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.638 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Stock of narrow money

$1.611 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.588 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Taxes and other revenues

21.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Unemployment rate

NA% | 3.6% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.886 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - consumption

1.246 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - from fossil fuels

74% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

25.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Electricity - installed generating capacity

512,200 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Electricity - production

1.34 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.01 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Refined petroleum products - consumption

20,140 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

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: 126

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 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: 47

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 16.5 cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%) | per capita: 1,010 cu m/yr (2005)

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

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

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Total renewable water resources

337 cu km (2011)

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)

Constitution

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

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 Robert T. YAMATE (since 13 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] (23) 480 00/01 | FAX: [261] (23) 480 35

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 through 5526 | FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034

Executive branch

chief of state: President Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimana (since 25 January 2014) | head of government: Prime Minister Jean RAVELONARIVO (since 17 January 2015) | 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 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; percent of vote in second round - Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA (FIDO) 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

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: unicameral National Assembly or Antenimierampirenena (151 seats; 87 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 64 directly elected in two-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-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 held in 2013 after repeated delays | election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - MPAR 17.3%, MR 10.8%, VPM MMM 8.2%, independent and other 63.7%; seats by party - MPAR 49, MR 20, VPM MMM 13, PHI 5, other 35, independent 25, seats with delayed elections 4

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 or LF [Manasse ESOAVELOMANDROSO] | Green Party/Parti Vert or AMHM [Sarah Georget RABEHARISOA] | National Unity, Freedom, and Development or FFF [Andriamparany Benjamin RADAVIDSON] | New Force for Madagascar or FIDIO [Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA] | Parti Hiaraka Isika or PHI [Albert Camille VITAL] | Party of Andry Rajoelina or MPAR [Andry RAJOELINA] | Pillar of Madagascar or AIM [Andry RAKOTOVAO] | Ravlomanana Movement or MR [Marc RAVALOMANANA] | Sambo Fiaran'i Noe or SFN | Union Party or Tambatra [Pety RAKOTONIAINA] | Vondrona Politika Miara dia Malagasy Miara Miainga or VPM MMM [Milavonjy ANDRIASY]

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 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. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential election of 2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA handing 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.

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 branches

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

Military expenditures

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

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 40.45% (male 4,856,231/female 4,775,025) | 15-24 years: 20.53% (male 2,450,164/female 2,439,035) | 25-54 years: 31.56% (male 3,760,230/female 3,755,775) | 55-64 years: 4.24% (male 488,315/female 521,690) | 65 years and over: 3.22% (male 347,151/female 419,065) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

32.61 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 1,827,423 | percentage: 28% | note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

39.9% (2008/09)

Death rate

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 80.3% | youth dependency ratio: 75.2% | elderly dependency ratio: 5.1% | potential support ratio: 19.5% (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

2.7% of GDP (2012) | 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

0.29% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,200 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

39,100 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Health expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 158

Hospital bed density

0.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 43.67 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 47.59 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 39.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Languages

French (official), Malagasy (official), English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.55 years | male: 64.09 years | female: 67.05 years (2015 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 (2013)

Major urban areas - population

ANTANANARIVO (capital) 2.61 million (2015)

Median age

total: 19.4 years | male: 19.2 years | female: 19.5 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 187

Physicians density

0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

23,812,681 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Population growth rate

2.58% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Religions

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

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: 10 years | male: 11 years | female: 10 years (2012)

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: 0.94 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.2 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 2.3% | male: 1.7% | female: 2.8% (2005 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Urbanization

urban population: 35.1% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 4.69% annual rate of change (2010-15 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: 21,475 (floods in 2015) (2015)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Madagascar is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; poor Malagasy women hired as domestic workers in Lebanon, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are vulnerable to abuse by recruitment agencies and employers; Malagasy men experience forced labor aboard Chinese-flagged fishing vessels in South Africa’s territorial waters; Malagasy children, mostly from rural areas, are subjected to domestic servitude, prostitution, forced begging, and forced labor within the country, often with the complicity of family members; child sex tourism continues to increase, especially in coastal cities, with Malagasy men being the main clients | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Madagascar does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the first seven convictions under the 2007 anti-trafficking law were secured in 2013; no government employees were investigated, despite widespread corruption and the alleged official complicity in human trafficking; authorities lacked formal procedures to identify victims among vulnerable groups and did not systematically provide or refer victims to NGOs for care; the government did not engage with the Lebanese Government regarding the protection of and legal remedies for exploited Malagasy workers but began discussions with Saudi and Kuwaiti officials (2014)

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 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Merchant marine

total: 1 | by type: cargo 1 | registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 152

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: 97

Roadways

total: 34,476 km | paved: 5,613 km | unpaved: 28,863 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 92

Waterways

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