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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.mg

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

773 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

70,500 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: system is above average for the region domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links connect regions international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

59,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

279,500 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $739.6 million expenditures: $1.071 billion, including capital expenditures of $331 million (2003)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Malagasy franc (MGF)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

MGF

Current account balance [time series]

$-398 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$4.6 billion (2002)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

38.1 (1999)

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

$354 million (2001)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy has 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 four-fifths of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the United States. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

772.1 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

830.2 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Malagasy francs per US dollar - 6,210 (2003), 6,831.96 (2002), 6,588.49 (2001), 6,767.48 (2000), 6,283.77 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$700 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products

Exports - partners [time series]

France 37.4%, US 29.2%, Germany 5.5%, Mauritius 5.2% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $13.02 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 34.5% industry: 7.8% services: 57.7% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)

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

6% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 29% (1999)

Imports [time series]

$920 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners [time series]

China 14.2%, France 13.2%, South Africa 6.4%, Iran 6.2% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (2000 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]

8% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

14.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

7.3 million (2000)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

71% (1999 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$423 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.9% (1998)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [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, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

10,900 sq km (2000 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5.07% permanent crops: 1.03% other: 93.91% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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 deep isobath

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Natural resources [time series]

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101 mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56 FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 FAX: [1] (202) 483-7603 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NA November 2006); prime minister appointed by the president election results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%

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]

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or 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]

bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); Senate (100 seats; two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-year terms) elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD 5, others 3, independents 22

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

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

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its 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.

Military

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

People's Armed Forces: comprising Intervention Force, Development Force, and Aeronaval - Navy and Air - Force; National Gendarmerie

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$69.8 million (2003)

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

1.2% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,004,242 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,373,342 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 169,186 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 44.9% (male 3,935,523; female 3,922,077) 15-64 years: 52% (male 4,509,877; female 4,596,662) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 245,168; female 292,564) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.62 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

7,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

140,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 78.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 86.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 69.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 56.54 years male: 54.19 years female: 58.96 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.9% male: 75.5% female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 17.4 years male: 17.2 years female: 17.7 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

17,501,871 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.03% (2004 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 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.7 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova 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]

116 (2003 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 43 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWT by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Railways [time series]

total: 732 km narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

600 km (2004)