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.
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
land
581,540 sq km
water
5,500 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
4,828 km
Maritime claims
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
Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
Environment - current issues
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island
Environment - international agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
Population
19,448,815 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
43.9% (male 4,297,985/female 4,243,369)
15-64 years
53% (male 5,117,874/female 5,190,032)
65 years and over
3.1% (male 270,411/female 329,144) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
17.8 years
male
17.6 years
female
18 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
3.008% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
38.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
8.51 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.013 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.986 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.822 male(s)/female
total population
0.992 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
57.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male
62.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female
51.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
62.14 years
male
60.23 years
female
64.1 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.24 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
7,500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk
high
food or waterborne diseases
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases
malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease
schistosomiasis (2007)
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
68.9%
male
75.5%
female
62.5% (2003 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form
Madagascar
local long form
Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form
Madagascar/Madagasikara
former
Malagasy Republic
Government type
republic
Capital
name
Antananarivo
geographic coordinates
18 52 S, 47 30 E
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government
Prime Minister Charles RABEMANANJARA (25 January 2007)
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results
percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%
Legislative branch
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies; the remaining one-third of seats appointed by the president; to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
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
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]; 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 pressure groups and leaders
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
2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX
[1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador James D. McGEE
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
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy - overview
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 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 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$17.27 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.059 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
26.9%
industry
16.5%
services
56.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force
7.3 million (2000)
Population below poverty line
50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3%
highest 10%
29% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
47.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
12% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
26.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$879.9 million
expenditures
$1.147 billion; including capital expenditures of $331 million (2006 est.)
