Madagascar
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Madagascar Geography 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 AreaŃcomparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 4,828 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm 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 Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 40% other: 14% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: periodic cyclones EnvironmentŃcurrent 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 EnvironmentŃinternational agreements: 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 GeographyŃnote: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel People Population: 14,462,509 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 3,272,236; female 3,196,565) 15-64 years: 52% (male 3,722,459; female 3,792,178) 65 years and over: 3% (male 231,582; female 247,489) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 2.81% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 41.89 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 13.83 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: 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: 0.93 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 90.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.88 years male: 51.7 years female: 54.1 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.76 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestryŃBetsimisaraka, 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 Country name: 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: MA Government type: republic National capital: Antananarivo Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliary 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 Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Pascal RAKOTOMAVO (since 21 February 1997) 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: percent of the popular vote for presidentŃDidier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (UNDD) 49.3%; percent of the National Assembly vote for prime ministerŃNA Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (138 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Senate or Senat (two-thirds of Senate seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; members serve four-year terms); noteŃthe establishment of the Senate has been indefinitely postponed; the total number of seats in the Senate will be determined by the National Assembly elections: National AssemblyŃlast held 16 June 1993 (next to be held May 1998) election results: National AssemblyŃpercent of vote by partyŃNA; seats by party - CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle) Political parties and leaders: Committee of Living Forces or CFV, an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy or UNDD [Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY, president], Support Committee for Democracy and Development in Madagascar or CSDDM [Francisque RAVONY, president], Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD, Congress Party for Madagascar Independence-Renewal or AKFM-Fanavaozana [Richard ANDRIAMANJATO, president], and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and religious groups; Association of United Malagasys or Famima [Didier RATSIRAKA, leader]; Confederation of Civil Societies for Development or CSCD [Guy Willy RAZANAMASY]; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar or PMDM/MFM, formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA]; Rally for Social Democracy or RPSD [Evariste MARSON, president] Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement International organization participation: 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, 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard T. PERLOW embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18 FAX: [261] (2) 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 EconomyŃoverview: 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 33% 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. GDP: purchasing power parityŃ$10.3 billion (1997 est.) GDPŃreal growth rate: 3% (1997 est.) GDPŃper capita: purchasing power parityŃ$730 (1997 est.) GDPŃcomposition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 15% services: 52% (1996 est.) Inflation rateŃconsumer price index: 19.8% (1996) Labor force: NA Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $477 million expenditures: $706 million, including capital expenditures of $264 million (1996 est.) Industries: meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1993 est.) ElectricityŃcapacity: 220,000 kW (1995) ElectricityŃproduction: 595 million kWh (1995) ElectricityŃconsumption per capita: 43 kWh (1995) AgricultureŃproducts: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products Exports: total value: $493 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products (1995 est.) partners: France 41%, US, Japan, Italy (1995) Imports: total value: $612 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% (1995 est.) partners: France 40%, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, US (1995) DebtŃexternal: $4.4 billion (1996 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $454 million (1992-96) Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1Ń5,302.9 (December 1997), 5,090.9 (1997), 4,061.3 (1996), 4,265.6 (1995), 3,067.3 (1994), 1,913.8 (1993) Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Telephones: 96,000 (1988 est.) Telephone system: 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 stationsŃ1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region) Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0 Radios: 2.565 million (1992 est.) Television broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 36) Televisions: 260,000 (1992 est.) Transportation Railways: total : 883 km narrow gauge: 883 km 1.000-m gauge (1994) Highways: total: 49,837 km paved: 5,781 km unpaved: 44,056 km (1996 est.) Waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara Merchant marine: total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,624 GRT/28,621 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1997 est.) Airports: 136 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith paved runways: total: 30 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith unpaved runways: total: 106 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 42 (1997 est.) Military Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval ForcesŃincludes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment Military manpowerŃmilitary age: 20 years of age Military manpowerŃavailability: males age 15-49: 3,308,300 (1998 est.) Military manpowerŃfit for military service: males: 1,964,545 (1998 est.) Military manpowerŃreaching military age annually: males: 140,429 (1998 est.) Military expendituresŃdollar figure: $29 million (1994) Military expendituresŃpercent of GDP: 1% (1994) Transnational Issues DisputesŃinternational: 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