<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Madagascar<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted for only 13% of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports. Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—purchasing power equivalent—$10.4 billion (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> 1% (1992 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $800 (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops—coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops—rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.125 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million
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<item><hi format=bold>Currency:</hi> 1 Malagasy franc (FMG)=100 centimes