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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 146 usable: 103 with permanent-surface runways: 30 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 36

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

40,000 km total; 4,694 km paved, 811 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil, 34,495 km improved and unimproved earth (est.)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,359 GRT/48,772 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas

Ports [time series]

Toamasina, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

1,020 km 1.000-meter gauge

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

above average system includes open-wire lines, coaxial cables, radio relay, and troposcatter links; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 1 (36 repeaters) TV

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $37 million, 2.2% of GDP (1991 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 2,826,018; fit for military service 1,681,553; reach military age (20) annually 118,233 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice

Budget [time series]

revenues $250 million; expenditures $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,125 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million

Electricity [time series]

125,000 kW capacity; 450 million kWh produced, 35 kWh per capita (1991)

Exchange rates [time series]

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,910.2 (December 1992), 1,867.9 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990), 1,603.4 (1989), 1,407.1 (1988), 1,069.2 (1987)

Exports [time series]

$312 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, sugar, petroleum products partners: France, Japan, Italy, Germany, US

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$4.4 billion (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption

Imports [time series]

$350 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% partners: France, Germany, UK, other EC, US

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 5.2% (1990 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP

Industries [time series]

agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

20% (1992 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.5 billion (1992 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$200 (1992 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

1% (1992 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 30% of GDP and contributing to more than 70% of total export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted for only 13% 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 exports, and reduced energy imports. After mid-1991, however, output dropped sharply because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 587,040 km2 land area: 581,540 km2 comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Climate [time series]

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Coastline [time series]

4,828 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to periodic cyclones; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

9,000 km2 (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of Mozambique in Southern Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary

Capital [time series]

Antananarivo

Constitution [time series]

12 September 1992

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

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

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

President: last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33% Popular National Assembly: last held on 28 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - AREMA 88.2%, MFM 5.1%, AKFM 3.7%, VONJY 2.2%, other 0.8%; seats - (137 total) AREMA 120, MFM 7, AKFM 5, VONJY 4, MONIMA 1

Executive branch [time series]

president, prime minister, Council of Ministers

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

26 June 1960 (from France)

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Executive branch (Leaders) [time series]

Chief of State: President Adm. Didier RATSIRAKA (since 15 June 1975) Head of Government: Prime Minister Guy RAZANAMASY (since 8 August 1991)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Popular National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire); note - the National Assembly has suspended its operations during 1992 and early 1993 in preparation for new legislative elections. In its place, an interim High Authority of State and a Social and Economic Recovery Council have been established

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM), leader NA; Federalist Movement, leader NA

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

some 30 political parties now exist in Madagascar, the most important of which are Advance Guard of the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA), Didier RATSIRAKA; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence (AKFM), RAKOTOVAO-ANDRIATIANA; Movement for National Unity (VONJY), Dr. Marojama RAZANABAHINY; Malagasy Christian Democratic Union (UDECMA), Norbert ANDRIAMORASATA; Militants for the Establishment of a Proletarian Regime (MFM), Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; National Movement for the Independence of Madagascar (MONIMA), Monja JAONA; National Union for the Defense of Democracy (UNDD), Albert ZAFY

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas BARRETT embassy: 14 and 16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 209-56, 200-89, 207-18 FAX: 261-234-539

People

Birth rate [time series]

45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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 [time series]

91 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.9 million 90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence agriculture; 175,000 wage earners by occupation: agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%, construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2% note: 51% of population of working age (1985)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.52 years male: 51.65 years female: 55.45 years (1993 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)

Population [time series]

13,005,989 (July 1993 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.2% (1993 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)