Madagascar
Introduction Madagascar
-----------------------
Background: Formerly an independent kingdom,
Madagascar became a French colony in
1886, 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.
Geography Madagascar
--------------------
Location: Southern Africa, island in the
Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of
Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM
from the 2,500-m deep 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,
salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish,
hydropower
Land use: arable land: 4.41%
permanent crops: 0.93%
other: 94.66% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: 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
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
Geography - note: world's fourth-largest island;
strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
People Madagascar
-----------------
Population: 16,473,477 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 3,713,700;
female 3,696,478)
15-64 years: 51.8% (male 4,227,931;
female 4,313,940)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male
241,699; female 279,729) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.03% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 42.41 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 12.15 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Sex ratio: 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: 0.86 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 81.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.74 years
female: 58.11 years (2002 est.)
male: 53.45 years
Total fertility rate: 5.77 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 11,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 870 (1999 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)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 80%
male: 88%
female: 73% (1990 est.)
Government Madagascar
---------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
local long form: Republique de
Madagascar
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
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: 19 August 1992 by national
referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and
traditional Malagasy law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: 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 from a list of candidates
nominated by the National Assembly
election results: percent of vote -
Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 40.89%,
Marc RAVALOMANANA 46.21%; note - on
29 April 2002, the High
Constitutional Court announced
RAVALOMANANA the winner by just over
50% after a recount; RATSIRIKA's
prime minister was put under house
arrest on 27 May 2002, and SYLLA was
appointed the new prime minister by
President RAVALOMANANA
Legislative branch: 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
Parliament 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 63, LEADER/
Fanilo 16, AVI 14, RPSD 11, AFFA 6,
MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/
Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1, independents
32
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High
Constitutional Court or Haute Cour
Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders: Action, Truth, Development, and
Harmony or AFFA [Professor Albert
ZAFY]; Association for the Rebirth
of Madagascar or AREMA [leader
vacant]; Congress Party for Malagasy
Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana
[leader NA]; Economic Liberalism and
Democratic Action for National
Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo
RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Rally or
Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY]; Group of
Reflection and Action for the
Development of Madagascar or GRAD/
Iloafo; Judged by Your Work or AVI
[Norbert RATSIRAHONANA]; Movement
for the Progress of Madagascar or
MFM [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA];
Renewal of the Social Democratic
Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON];
Tranobe (Big House) [Ny Hasina
ANDRIAMANJATO]
Political pressure groups and Federalist Movement; National
leaders: Council of Christian Churches or
FFKM
International organization ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-
participation: 77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Zina
ANDRIANARIVELO-RAZAFY
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda
US: L. NESBITT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo,
Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address: B. P. 620,
Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red
(top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on
hoist side
Economy Madagascar
------------------
Economy - overview: Madagascar faces problems of 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 one-third 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 prices, and the erratic
commitment of the government to
economic reform. The extent of
government reforms, outside
financial aid, and foreign
investment will be key determinants
of future growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $870 (2001
est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34%
industry: 11%
services: 55% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 70% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 2.2%
percentage share: highest 10%: 37.3% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini 46 (1997)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 7 million (1999)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $553 million
expenditures: $735 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1998 est.)
Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries,
tanneries, sugar, textiles,
glassware, cement, automobile
assembly plant, paper, petroleum,
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 820 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.59%
hydro: 63.41%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 762.6 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves,
cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock
products
Exports: $680 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar;
cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum
products
Exports - partners: France 41%, US 21%, Germany 7%,
Japan 4%, UK 1% (2000)
Imports: $919 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: intermediate manufactures, capital
goods, petroleum, consumer goods,
food
Imports - partners: France 38%, Hong Kong 10%, China 5%,
Singapore 5%, Japan 3%
Debt - external: $4.5 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient: $838 million (1997)
Currency: Malagasy franc (MGF)
Currency code: MGF
Exchange rates: Malagasy francs per US dollar -
6,531.4 (December 2001), 6,588.5
(2001), 6,767.5 (2000), 6,283.8
(1999), 5,441.4 (1998), 5,090.9
(1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Madagascar
-------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 55,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 63,100 (2000)
Telephone system: 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: submarine cable to
Bahrain; satellite earth stations -
1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2 (plus a number of repeater
stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)
Radios: 3.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions: 325,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .mg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 30,000 (2000)
Transportation Madagascar
-------------------------
Railways: total: 893 km
narrow gauge: 893 km 1.000-m gauge
(2001)
Highways: total: 49,837 km
paved: 5,781 km
unpaved: 44,056 km (1996)
Waterways: note: of local importance only
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Merchant marine: total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 27,199 GRT/37,462 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, chemical
tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 (2002
est.)
Airports: 130 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: 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 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 101
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 44 (2001)
Military Madagascar
-------------------
Military branches: People's Armed Forces (comprising
Intervention Force, Development
Force, Aeronaval [Navy and Air]
Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential
Security Regiment
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,758,940 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 2,229,304 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching military males: 153,856 (2002 est.)
age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $48.7 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.2% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Madagascar
-------------------------------
Disputes - international: claims Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de
Nova Island, and Tromelin Island
(all administered by France)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis
(cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption;
transshipment point for heroin
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