Madagascar Population: 22,599,098
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| 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 elections 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. Numerous attempts have been made by regional and international organizations to resolve the subsequent political gridlock by forming a power-sharing government. Madagascar's independent electoral commission and the UN originally planned to hold a presidential election in early May 2013, but postponed the election until late July 2013, due to logistical delays. |
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| Geography | |
| World's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel | |
| Location: | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique |
| Geographic coordinates: | 20 00 S, 47 00 E |
| Area: | total: 587,041 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,501 sq km Size comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona |
| Land Boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 4,828 km |
| 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 |
| Climate: | tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south |
| Terrain: | narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m |
| Natural resources: | graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower |
| Land use: | arable land: 5.03% permanent crops: 1.02% other: 93.95% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 10,860 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 22,599,098 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 41.1% (male 4,678,675/female 4,599,636) 15-24 years: 20.6% (male 2,332,608/female 2,323,409) 25-54 years: 31.1% (male 3,514,600/female 3,507,724) 55-64 years: 4.1% (male 445,159/female 485,846) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 322,706/female 388,735) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 18.3 years male: 18 years female: 18.5 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.68% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 34 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 47.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 51.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 64 years male: 61.97 years female: 66.1 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.36 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.2% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 24,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 1,700 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy |
| Ethnic groups: | 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), English |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 67.4% female: 61.6% (2009 est.) |
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| Government | |
| 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 |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | name: Antananarivo geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara |
| Independence: | 26 June 1960 (from France) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 26 June (1960) |
| Constitution: | passed by referendum 17 November 2010; promulgated 11 December 2010 (2010) |
| Legal system: | civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Andry Nirina RAJOELINA (since 18 March 2009) head of government: Prime Minister Jean Omer BERIZIKY (since 2 November 2011) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 December 2006 (next to be held on 24 July 2013); prime minister appointed by the president; note - a power-sharing agreement concluded in September 2011 established conditions for general elections, tentatively scheduled for 24 July 2013 after repeated delays election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%; note - RAVALOMANANA stepped down on 17 March 2009 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, who will head the High Transitional Authority; a power-sharing agreement was reached in August 2009, establishing a 15-month transition period to conclude with general elections in 2010; as of December 2012 elections had still not been scheduled but the country appears to be moving towards elections in 2013 |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the members appointed by regional assemblies; the remaining one-third appointed by the president; members to serve four-year terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127 seats - reduced from 160 seats by an April 2007 national referendum; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held on 23 September 2007 (next to be held on 3 July 2013); note - a power-sharing agreement in the summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in general elections tentatively scheduled for 3 July 2013 after repeated delays election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TIM 106, LEADER/Fanilo 1, independents 20 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle |
| Political parties and leaders: | Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]; Democratic Party for Union in Madagascar or PSDUM [Jean LAHINIRIKO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; Green Party or Vert [Sarah Georget RABEHARISOA]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON] |
| 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 |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF (suspended), OPCW, PCA, SADC (suspended), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Velotiana Rakotoanosy RAOBELINA chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525 through 5526 FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034 consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador [vacant]; Charge d'Affaires Eric WONG 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 |
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| Economy | |
| After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s, Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization that has been undermined since the start of the political crisis. This strategy placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US, 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 and a sharp fall in textile production. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. The current political crisis, which began in early 2009, has dealt additional blows to the economy. Tourism dropped more than 50% in 2009 compared with the previous year, and many investors are wary of entering the uncertain investment environment. Growth was anemic during 2010 to 2012 although expansion in mining and agricultural sectors is expected to contribute to more growth in 2013. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $21.37 billion (2012 est.) $20.97 billion (2011 est.) $20.6 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $10.05 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 1.9% (2012 est.) 1.8% (2011 est.) 0.4% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,000 (2012 est.) $1,000 (2011 est.) $1,000 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 28.3% industry: 16.5% services: 55.2% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 9.504 million (2007) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | |
| Unemployment rate: | |
| Population below poverty line: | 50% (2004 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 34.7% (2010 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 47.5 (2001) 38.1 (1999) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.2% (2012 est.) 9.5% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 18.7% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $1.738 billion expenditures: $1.907 billion (2012 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products |
| Industries: | meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 2% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 1.35 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 1.256 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$2.322 billion (2012 est.) -$2.526 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $1.533 billion (2012 est.) $1.394 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, clothing, chromite, petroleum products |
| Exports - partners: | France 22.9%, Indonesia 15.5%, Singapore 6.7%, China 5.7%, Germany 5.5%, US 5% (2011) |
| Imports: | $3.876 billion (2012 est.) $3.765 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food |
| Imports - partners: | China 17.4%, France 13.3%, South Africa 5.7%, Singapore 4.9%, Bahrain 4.8%, Mauritius 4.6%, Kuwait 4.5%, India 4.1% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $1.294 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.279 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $2.631 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.362 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - 2,220 (2012 est.) 2,025.1 (2011 est.) 2,090 (2010 est.) 1,956.2 (2009) 1,654.78 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 138,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 139 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 8.665 million (2011) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .mg |
| Internet hosts: | 38,392 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 319,900 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 82 (2012) country comparison to the world: 68 |
| Airports (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 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 56 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 18 (2012) |
| Railways: | total: 854 km narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 65,663 km paved: 7,617 km unpaved: 58,046 km (2003) |
| Waterways: | 600 km (432 km navigable) (2011) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 1 by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear) |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-25 years of age for male-only voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation - 18 months (either military or equivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for National Gendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with military experience) (2010) |
| 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.) |
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