Statistical information Madagascar 1989

Madagascar in the World
top of pageBackground: Formerly an independent kingdom Madagascar became a French colony in 1886 but regained its independence in 1960. It has been under single-party rule since 1965.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 150 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 150 nm
Extended economic zone: 150 nm
Territorial sea: 50 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
ElevationNatural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish
Land use: 4% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 58% meadows and pastures; 26% forest and woodland; 11% other; includes 2% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
top of pagePopulation: 11,430,269 (July 1989), growth rate 3.2% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Malagasy (sing. and pl.; adjective - Malagasy
Ethnic groups: basic split between highlanders of predominantly Malayo-Indonesian origin (Merina 1,643,000 and related Betsileo 760,000) on the one hand and coastal tribes, collectively termed the Cotiers, with mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry (Betsimisaraka 941,000, Tsimihety 442,000, Antaisaka 415,000, Sakalava 375,000), on the other; there are also 11,000 European French, 5,000 Indians of French nationality, and 5,000 Creoles
Languages: French and Malagasy (official)
Religions: 52% indigenous beliefs; about 41% Christian, 7% Muslim
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 47 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 15 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to periodic cyclones; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 99 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 53 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 53%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Madagascar
Government type: real authority in hands of the president, although Supreme Revolutionary Council is theoretically ultimate executive authority
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (plural - NA, singular - faritanin; Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Dependent areasIndependence: 26 June 1960 (from France; formerly Malagasy Republic)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution: 21 December 1975
Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State - President Adm. Didier RATSIRAKA (since 15 June 1975; Head of Government - Prime Minister Lt. Col. Victor RAMAHATRA (since 12 February 1988)
Legislative branch: Popular Army, Aeronaval Forces (includes Navy and Air Force), paramilitary Gendarmerie
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, CCC, EAMA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Leon M. RAJAOBELINA; Chancery at 2,374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 265-5,525 or 5,526; there is a Malagasy Consulate General in New York; US - Ambassador Patricia Gates LYNCH; Embassy at 14 and 16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo (mailing address is B. P. 620, Antananarivo; telephone 212-57, 209-56, 200-89, 207-18
Flag description
: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. During the period 1980-85 it had a population growth of 3% a year and a - 0.4% GDP growth rate. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 40% of GDP, employing about 85% of the labor force, and contributing more than 80% to export earnings. Industry is confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1985 it contributed only 14% to GDP and employed 4% of the labor force. Industrial development has been hampered by government policies that have restricted imports of equipment and spare parts and put strict controls on foreign-owned enterprises. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan that stresses self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: cash crops - coffee, vanilla, cloves, sugar, tobacco, sisal, raffia, pepper, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, cereals, potatoes, corn, beans, bananas, coconuts, and peanuts; animal husbandry widespread; imports some rice, milk, and cereal
Industries: agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, brewery, tanneries, sugar refining), light consumer goods industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2 % (1986)
Labor force:
4,900,000; 90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence agriculture; 175,000 wage earners - 26% agriculture, 17% domestic service, 15%
industry, 14% commerce, 11% construction, 9%
services, 6% transportation, 2% other; 51% of population of working age (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $289 million; expenditures $480 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $310 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 15%, cloves 11%, sugar, petroleum products
Partners: France, Japan, Italy, FRG, US
Imports: $315 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13%
Partners: France, FRG, UK, other EC, US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $3.3 billion (1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 1,557.6 (January 1989), 1,407.1 (1988), 1,069.2 (1987), 676.3 (1986), 662.5 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 119,000 kW capacity; 431 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $32 million, 19.8% of central government budget (1989)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 149 total, 119 usable; 30 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 43 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes
Merchant marine: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,819 GRT/92,208 DWT; includes 8 cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs