Official Name
Republic of Madagascar
Capital Antananarivo
Currencies Malagasy franc
Language(s) French and Malagasy
Population 16.4 million
GNP per head (US$) 250
Area (square kilometres) 581540
Population per sq. km 28
Population per sq. mile 73


COUNTRY INFORMATION

Introduction

Lying in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is the world's fourth-largest island. Its isolation means that there is a host of unique wildlife and plants. To the east, the large central plateau drops precipitously through forested cliffs to the coast; in the west, gentler gradients give way to fertile plains. It became independent from France in 1960, and after 18 years of radical socialism under Didier Ratsiraka, became a multiparty democracy. It is heavily dependent on the IMF as it tries to rebuild its agriculture-based economy.



Climate

Tropical Madagascar often has cyclones. The coastal lowlands are humid; rainfall averages 200 cm (79 in.) in the east, but under 80 cm (31 in.) in the southwest. The central plateau is cooler, with 100–150 cm (39–59 in.) of rain a year.



People
Languages Malagasy, French
URBAN/RURAL POPULATION DIVIDE
Urban 30
% Rural 70
%

The people of Madagascar, like their language, Malagasy, are essentially Malay–Indonesian in origin. Their ancestors migrated across the Indian Ocean in successive waves from the 1st century. Later migrants from the African mainland intermixed and provided the many African words in Malagasy. Arab traders provided another ingredient to the mix. The main ethnic division is between the central plateau and côtier peoples. Of more pronounced Malay extraction, the plateau Merina were Madagascar's historic rulers. They remain the social elite – to the resentment of the poorer côtiers, the group to which long-term ruler Didier Ratsiraka belonged. The extended family remains the focus of social life for the rural majority.



Economy
GNP (US$) 3869
M GNP World rank 120
 
Inflation 12 % Unemployment No data %

Strengths

Varied agricultural base; vanilla, coffee, and clove exports. Offshore oil and gas. Prawns. Tourism. Literate workforce.

Weaknesses

Losing out to cheaper vanilla exporters. Vulnerability to drought and cyclone damage, severe in early 2000. Economic reforms yet to bear fruit. Not self-sufficient in rice, the food staple.



Politics
Lower house Last election 1998 Next election 2003
Upper house Last election 2001 Next election 2007

From 1975 until 2002 Madagascan politics was dominated by radical socialist president Didier Ratsiraka. A return to multipartyism resulted in his removal in 1993, but in 1997 he was returned to power. Continuing economic gloom saw him defeated in elections in 2001. Refusing to accept the victory of the liberal opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana, Ratsiraka precipitated an eight-month power struggle which violently divided the island. Eventually support for Ravalomanana proved overwhelming, and he was recognized internationally as president in June 2002.



International Affairs
 

Once-close ties with Moscow and North Korea waned as Madagascar cemented relations with its main Western trading partners, especially France and the USA. Since Zafy left office, cooperation with the IMF has improved too. Regionally, Madagascar has reestablished ties with South Africa and in 1994 joined COMESA.



Defence
Expenditure (US$) 41 M Portion of GDP 1 %
Army 12 light tanks (PT-76)
Navy None
Airforce 12 combat aircraft (MiG-17F, MiG-21FL)
Nuclear capab. None

The army took a back seat during the political turmoil of 2002, in strong contrast to its intervention against federalist côtiers in 1992.



Resources
Minerals Chromite, graphite, oil, mica, iron, bitumen, gemstones, marble, gas
Oil reserves (barrels) No data Oil production (barrels/day) Not an oil producer

Electricity is hydrogenerated. There are underexploited mineral reserves and offshore oil and gas. There were large finds of high-quality sapphires in 1998.



Environment
Protected land 2 % Part protected land 1 %
Environmental trends

Madagascar's environment is a unique resource; 80% of its plant and many animal species, such as the lemur, are found nowhere else. Aid donations help to combat deforestation and soil erosion.



Communications
Main airport Ivato, Antananarivo Passengers per year 707304
Motorways 0
km Roads 5781
km Railways 883
km

An extensive domestic air network – due for privatization – compensates for the facts that many roads are impassable during the rains and the rail network is very limited. Toamasina port handles about 70% of total traffic.



International Aid
Donated (US$) Not applicable
M Received (US$) 322
M

In 1999 the IMF pledged assistance for fiscal and economic reforms. Emergency aid became a high priority after cyclone damage and heavy floods in early 2000.



Health
Life expectancy 53 Life expect. World rank 151
Population per doctor 10000 Infant mortality (per 1000 births) 88
Expend. % GDP 1 %
Principal causes of death Malaria, enteric and respiratory diseases

Private health care was legalized in 1993. State care is free but inadequate. Malaria is at epidemic levels. There are outbreaks of bubonic plague.



Education
Literacy 67 % Expend. % GNP 2

%

PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN FULL TIME EDUCATION
Primary 93 % Secondary 16 % Tertiary 2 %

Madagascar boasts one of Africa's highest literacy rates. Universal primary education will soon be based on French, not Malagasy. About 40% of children attend secondary school.



Criminality
Crime rate trend Down 68% 1992–1994
Prison population 20109
Murder 0 per 100,000 population
Rape 1 per 100,000 population
Theft 71 per 100,000 population

Urban crime levels are rising, with theft a particular concern. The army faces accusations of abusing human rights and of shooting federalists in 1993.



Wealth
Cars 4 per 1,000 population
Telephones 3 per 1,000 population
Televisions 24 per 1,000 population

Most of Madagascar's people are terribly poor, although central plateau dwellers are richer than the côtier farmers and fishermen.



Media
Newspapers There are 5 daily newspapers, including the Madagascar Tribune and Midi Madagasikara
TV services 1 state-owned service
Radio services 1 state-owned service, many independent stations


Tourism
Visitors per year 160000

With 5000 km (3100 miles) of tropical beaches and unique flora and fauna, Madagascar has great tourism potential. An important foreign exchange earner, tourism nonetheless remains underdeveloped. Tourist arrivals increased after the marked decline of 1991, thanks partly to restored political stability.



History

Increasing European contacts after the 16th century culminated in the 1895 French invasion. Madagascar became a French colony and the Merina monarchy was abolished.

  • 1947–1948 French troops kill thousands in nationalist uprisings.
  • 1960 Independence.
  • 1975 Radical socialist Didier Ratsiraka takes power.
  • 1990 Multiparty political reforms.
  • 1991 Opposition Forces Vives (CFV) coalition set up; led by Albert Zafy. Mass strikes against regime.
  • 1992 Civilian rule restored.
  • 1993 Zafy's CFV defeats Ratsiraka's coalition, the MFM, in free elections.
  • 1996 Zafy impeached.
  • 1997 Ratsiraka elected president.
  • 2002 Country divided after opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana claims presidential election victory.