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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

2.74 million (1994 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

34,000 (1994)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (in addition, there are 36 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

280,000 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $477 million expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$4.4 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$298.5 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Madagascar suffers 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 32% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential; the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

595 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

595 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 41.18% hydro: 58.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1--5,468.5 (January 1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$170 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

France 31.7%, Japan 15.8%, Germany 6.4%, Reunion 5.7% (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$10.3 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 32% industry: 13% services: 55% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$730 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

3% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 34.9% (1993)

Imports [time series]

$477 million (f.o.b., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

France 31.0%, Iran 9.1%, South Africa 8.2%, Japan 5.8%, US 5.0% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.8% (1993 est.)

Industries [time series]

meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.5% (1997)

Labor force [time series]

7 million (1995)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 587,040 sq km land: 581,540 sq km water: 5,500 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

10,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 40% other: 14% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic cyclones

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Capital [time series]

Antananarivo

Constitution [time series]

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T. PERLOW embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of vote--Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

26 June 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note--the legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral Paliament with the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president; the total number of seats will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms elections: National Assembly--last held 17 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents 34

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

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

Association for the Rebirth of RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo RAZANAMASY]

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

National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$29 million (1994)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

1% (1994)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,415,726 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,027,757 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 144,779 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 3,356,104; female 3,279,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,841,248; female 3,908,209) 65 years and over: 3% (male 234,549; female 254,221) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [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]

89.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.24 years male: 52.01 years female: 54.51 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

14,873,387 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.8% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

Transportation

Airports [time series]

133 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,311 GRT/31,533 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Railways [time series]

total: 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994)

Waterways [time series]

of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes)