Madagascar

semi-presidential republic

name: Antananarivo geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name means "City of the Thousand," from the Malagasy an - (a prefix denoting a place name), tanana (town), and arivo (thousand); in the 17th century, King ADRIANJAKA named the original fortress after the 1,000 soldiers stationed there

chief of state: Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.) head of government: Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president most recent election date: 16 November 2023 election results: 2023 : Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5% expected date of next election: November 2028 note: on 14 October 2025 Col. Michael Randrianirina, commander of an elite unit of the country s armed forces, announced the formation of a transitional government made up of civilians, which would rule for two years; the constitution, the country s top court, and the electoral commission were suspended, and a referendum will be held to formulate a new constitution; the lower house of Parliament was not suspended and impeached former-President Andry RAJOELINA

legislative structure: bicameral

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr me (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 11 members; addresses cases brought against the president of Madagascar and senior officials for high treason, grave violations of the Constitution, or breach of duties incompatible with the exercise of the presidential mandate) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 7-year terms; High Court of Justice members include: first president of the Supreme Court; 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation; 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal; 2 deputies from the National Assembly; 2 senators from the Senate; 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court

history: previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar s collectivities, cannot be amended

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

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Madagascar Armed Forces (aka Armed forces of the Republic of Madagascar); Malagasy Army, Naval Forces (or National Navy), Air Force; Malagasy National Gendarmerie (2025) note: the National Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense but separate from the PAF and is responsible for maintaining law and order in rural areas at the village level, protecting government facilities, and operating a maritime police contingent; the National Police under the Ministry of Security is responsible for maintaining law and order in urban areas

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation 18 months; conscription available in times of national emergency or war (2025)

the military s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar s maritime domain, particularly against piracy, drug trafficking, and smuggling; it also assists the Gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, largely in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling, and criminal groups; the military has a history of influence in domestic politics and seized control of the government in October 2025; security relationships have included France, India, and Russia; Madagascar's small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2025)

$52.968 billion (2024 est.) $50.833 billion (2023 est.) $48.782 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$1,700 (2024 est.) $1,600 (2023 est.) $1,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

4.2% (2024 est.) 4.2% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

9.9% (2023 est.) 8.2% (2022 est.) 5.8% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

$4.689 billion (2022 est.) $3.362 billion (2021 est.) $2.589 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$6.041 billion (2022 est.) $4.769 billion (2021 est.) $3.718 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

3.1% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.2% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

revenues: $2.066 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $2.876 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 31,345,040 (2025 est.) male: 15,647,362 female: 15,697,678

2.15% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 37% (male 5,507,847/female 5,400,551) 15-64 years: 59.1% (male 8,720,012/female 8,673,880) 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 532,642/female 617,782)

27.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 68.8 years (2024 est.) male: 67.3 years female: 70.3 years

urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

Malagasy (official) 99.9%, French (official) 23.6%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.) note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.)

total population: 74.7% (2021 est.) male: 77.9% (2021 est.) female: 71.8% (2021 est.)

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

refugees: 1,256 (2024 est.) IDPs: 9,868 (2024 est.)

93 (2025)

total: 836 km (2018) narrow gauge: 836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

total: 29 (2023) by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11

total subscriptions: 23.5 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2023 est.)

percent of population: 20% (2023 est.)