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MADAGASCAR
OFFICIAL NAME
Republic of Madagascar
CAPITAL CITY
Antananarivo, population 1,250,000
Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
587,040 sq km
land area:
581,540 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
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
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:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
58%
forest and woodland:
26%
other:
11%
Irrigated land:
9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
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 note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
People
Population:
13,670,507 (July 1996 est.)
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.)
Population growth rate:
2.83% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
42.63 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
14.38 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
52.19 years
male:
51.11 years
female:
53.3 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective:
Malagasy
Ethnic divisions:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
80%
male:
88%
female:
73%
Government
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
Data code:
MA
Type of government:
republic
Capital:
Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); 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:
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
FAX:
[261] (2) 234-539
Economy
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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate:
2.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita:
$820 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
35%
industry:
15%
services:
50% (1995 est.)
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%
Budget:
revenues:
$250 million
expenditures:
$265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991 est.)
Industries:
meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:
3.8% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
220,000 kW
production:
560 million kWh
consumption per capita:
40 kWh (1993)
Agriculture:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
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
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
External debt:
$4.3 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient:
ODA, $318 million (1993)
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)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Transportation
Railways:
total:
883 km
narrow gauge:
883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total:
34,750 km
paved:
5,352 km
unpaved:
29,398 km (1991 est.)
Waterways:
of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes
Ports:
Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliaria
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.)
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.)
Communications
Telephones:
96,000 (1988 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios:
2.565 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (repeaters 36)
Televisions:
260,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
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)
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