Africa :: Madagascar

- Introduction :: Madagascar
- Background:
  Madagascar was one of the last major landmasses on earth to be colonized by humans. The earliest settlers from present-day Indonesia arrived between A.D. 350 and 550. The island attracted Arab and Persian traders as early as the 7th century, and migrants from Africa arrived around A.D. 1000. Madagascar was a pirate stronghold during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and served as a slave trading center into the 19th century. From the 16th to the late 19th century, a native Merina Kingdom dominated much of Madagascar. The island was conquered by the French in 1896 who made it a colony; independence was regained 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. RAVALOMANANA won a second term in 2006 but, following protests in 2009, handed over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. Following a lengthy mediation process led by the Southern African Development Community, Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA won a runoff election in December 2013 and was inaugurated in January 2014.
- Geography :: Madagascar
- Location:
  Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
  Geographic coordinates:
  20 00 S, 47 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 587,041 sq km
  land: 581,540 sq km
  water: 5,501 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Area - comparative:
  almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  4,828 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
  Climate:
  tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
  Terrain:
  narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: 615 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Indian Ocean
  2876 highest point: Maromokotro
  Natural resources:
  graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 71.1% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 6% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 64.1% (2011 est.)
  forest: 21.5% (2011 est.)
  other: 7.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  10,860 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline
  Natural hazards:

  periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation

  volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times

  Environment - current issues:
  erosion and soil degredation results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation (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; despite Madagascar’s close proximity to the African continent, ocean currents isolate the island resulting in high rates of endemic plant and animal species; approximately 90% of the flora and fauna on the island are found nowhere else
- People and Society :: Madagascar
- Population:
  25,683,610 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  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
  Languages:
  French (official), Malagasy (official), English
  Religions:
  Christian, indigenous religionist, Muslim
  Demographic profile:

  Madagascar’s youthful population – just over 60% are under the age of 25 – and high total fertility rate of more than 4 children per women ensures that the Malagasy population will continue its rapid growth trajectory for the foreseeable future. The population is predominantly rural and poor; chronic malnutrition is prevalent, and large families are the norm. Many young Malagasy girls are withdrawn from school, marry early (often pressured to do so by their parents), and soon begin having children. Early childbearing, coupled with Madagascar’s widespread poverty and lack of access to skilled health care providers during delivery, increases the risk of death and serious health problems for young mothers and their babies.

  Child marriage perpetuates gender inequality and is prevalent among the poor, the uneducated, and rural households – as of 2013, of Malagasy women aged 20 to 24, more than 40% were married and more than a third had given birth by the age of 18. Although the legal age for marriage is 18, parental consent is often given for earlier marriages or the law is flouted, especially in rural areas that make up nearly 65% of the country. Forms of arranged marriage whereby young girls are married to older men in exchange for oxen or money are traditional. If a union does not work out, a girl can be placed in another marriage, but the dowry paid to her family diminishes with each unsuccessful marriage.

  Madagascar’s population consists of 18 main ethnic groups, all of whom speak the same Malagasy language. Most Malagasy are multi-ethnic, however, reflecting the island’s diversity of settlers and historical contacts (see Background). Madagascar’s legacy of hierarchical societies practicing domestic slavery (most notably the Merina Kingdom of the 16th to the 19th century) is evident today in persistent class tension, with some ethnic groups maintaining a caste system. Slave descendants are vulnerable to unequal access to education and jobs, despite Madagascar’s constitutional guarantee of free compulsory primary education and its being party to several international conventions on human rights. Historical distinctions also remain between central highlanders and coastal people.

  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39.55% (male 5,119,804 /female 5,037,438)
  15-24 years: 20.23% (male 2,608,996 /female 2,587,745)
  25-54 years: 32.42% (male 4,160,278 /female 4,166,538)
  55-64 years: 4.45% (male 560,072 /female 581,963)
  65 years and over: 3.35% (male 390,094 /female 470,682) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Africa :: Madagascar Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Madagascar. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 80.1 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 75 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 19.6 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 19.9 years
  male: 19.7 years
  female: 20.1 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Population growth rate:
  2.46% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Birth rate:
  31 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Death rate:
  6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Population distribution:
  most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 37.2% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 4.48% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  3.058 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth:
  19.5 years (2008/09 est.)

  note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

  Maternal mortality rate:
  353 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 40.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 43.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 36.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 66.6 years (2018 est.)
  male: 65.1 years (2018 est.)
  female: 68.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Total fertility rate:
  3.95 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  39.8% (2012/13)
  Health expenditures:
  3% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Physicians density:
  0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
  Hospital bed density:
  0.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 81.6% of population
  rural: 35.3% of population
  total: 51.5% of population
  unimproved: urban: 18.4% of population
  rural: 64.7% of population
  total: 48.5% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 18% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 8.7% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 12% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 82% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 91.3% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 88% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.3% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  35,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  1,600 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high (2016)
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
  vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever (2016)
  water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
  animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  5.3% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Education expenditures:
  2.1% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 64.7% (2015 est.)
  male: 66.7% (2015 est.)
  female: 62.6% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years (2014)
  male: 11 years (2014)
  female: 10 years (2014)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 1% (2012 est.)
  male: 1% (2012 est.)
  female: 1% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
- Government :: Madagascar
- 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
  etymology: the name "Madageiscar" was first used by the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO, as a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu, the Somali port with which POLO confused the island
  Government type:
  semi-presidential republic
  Capital:
  name: Antananarivo
  geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 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:
  history: previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 (2017)
  amendments: proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two-thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar’s collectivities cannot be amended (2017)
  Legal system:
  civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members); note - the judiciary includes a High Court of Justice responsible for adjudicating crimes and misdemeanors by government officials, including the president
  judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 6-year terms
  subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; provincial and city tribunals
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimana (since 25 January 2014)
  head of government: Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 25 October and 20 December 2013 (next to be held on 7 November and 19 December 2018); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president
  election results: Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA (HVM) 53.5%, Jean Louis ROBINSON (AVANA) 46.5%

  note: on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc RAVALOMANANA stepped down, handing the government over to the military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA; a power-sharing agreement established a 15-month transition period to conclude with a general election in 2010, which failed to occur; a subsequent agreement aimed for an early 2013 election - the first round was held on 25 October 2013 and the second on 20 December 2013

  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of:
  Senate or Antenimieran-Doholona (dissolved following the 2009 coup and reestablished in December 2015) (63 seats; 42 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of municipal, communal, regional, and provincial leaders and 21 appointed by the president of the republic; members serve 6-year terms)
  National Assembly or Antenimierampirenena (151 seats; 87 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 64 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections:
  Senate - last held 29 December 2015 (next to be held in 2021)
  National Assembly - last held on 20 December 2013 (next to be held in 2019)
  election results:
  Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TIM 3, MAPAR 2, LEADER-Fanilo 1, independent 2, appointed by the president 21
  National Assembly - percent of vote by party - MAPAR 17.3%, MR 10.8%, VPM MMM 8.2%, PHI 3.8%, AMHM 3.5%, LEADER-Fanilo 2.8%, FFF 1.6%, AIM 1.%, SFN 0.3%, independent and other 50.6%; seats by party - MAPAR 49, MR 20, VPM MMM 13, PHI 5, AMHM 2, LEADER-Fanilo 5, FFF 2, AIM 2, SFN 2, other 22, independent 25, seats with delayed elections 4
  Political parties and leaders:
  + AVANA [Jean-Louis ROBINSON]
  Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER-Fanilo [Manasse ESOAVELOMANDROSO]
  Green Party/Parti Vert or AMHM [Sarah Georget RABEHARISOA]
  I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]
  Liberal Democrat Party (Parti Liberal Democrate) or PLD [Sarah RABEHARISOA]
  Malagasy Awaken Party (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS [Roland RATSIRAKA]
  Malagasy Starting Together Party (Malagasy Miara-Miainga) or MMM [Hajo ANDRIANAINARIVELO]
  National Unity, Freedom, and Development or FFF [Benjamin RADAVIDSON Andriamparany]
  New Forces for Madagascar (Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara) or HVM [Rivo RAKOTOVAO]
  Parti Hiaraka Isika or PHI [Albert Camille VITAL]
  Pillar for the Renovation of Madagscar Party (Avant-garde pour la Renovation de Madagascar) or AREMA [Didier RATSIRAKA]
  Pillar of Madagascar or AIM [Andry RAKOTOVAO]
  Ravalomanana Movement or MR
  Sambo Fiaran'i Noe or SFN
  Union Party or Tambatra [Pety RAKOTONIAINA]
  Vondrona Politika Miara dia Malagasy Miara Miainga or VPM MMM [Milavonjy ANDRIASY]
  With the President Andry RAJOELIN Party (Miaraka amin'i Andry RAJOELINA) or MAPAR [Andry RAJOELINA]
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Eric ANDRIAMIHAJAMANANIRINA Robson (since 28 March 2018)
  chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525
  FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
  consulate(s) general: New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stuart R. WILSON (since 2 April 2018)
  embassy: Lot 207A, Point Liberty, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo
  mailing address: B.P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
  telephone: [261] 20 23 480 00
  FAX: [261] 20 23 480 35 or [261] 33 44 328 17
  Flag description:
  two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity
  National symbol(s):
  traveller's palm, zebu; national colors: red, green, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)
  lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA

  note: adopted 1959

- Economy :: Madagascar
- Economy - overview:

  Madagascar is a mostly unregulated economy with many untapped natural resources, but no capital markets, a weak judicial system, poorly enforced contracts, and rampant government corruption. The country faces challenges to improve education, healthcare, and the environment to boost long-term economic growth. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing roughly 80% of the population. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by bushfires, slash-and-burn clearing techniques, and the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns to the agriculture dependent economy.

  After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s, Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization until a 2009 coup d’état led many nations, including the United States, to suspend non-humanitarian aid until a democratically-elected president was inaugurated in 2014. The pre-coup strategy had placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low starting point. Exports of apparel boomed after gaining duty-free access to the US market in 2000 under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA); however, Madagascar's failure to comply with the requirements of the AGOA led to the termination of the country's duty-free access in January 2010, a sharp fall in textile production, a loss of more than 100,000 jobs, and a GDP drop of nearly 11%.

  Madagascar regained AGOA access in January 2015 and ensuing growth has been slow and fragile. Madagascar produces around 80% of the world’s vanilla and its reliance on this commodity for most of its foreign exchange is a significant source of vulnerability. Economic reforms have been modest and the country’s financial sector remains weak, limiting the use of monetary policy to control inflation. An ongoing IMF program aims to strengthen financial and investment management capacity.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $39.85 billion (2017 est.)
  $38.25 billion (2016 est.)
  $36.72 billion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 119
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $11.5 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  4.2% (2017 est.)
  4.2% (2016 est.)
  3.1% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $1,600 (2017 est.)
  $1,500 (2016 est.)
  $1,500 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 218
  Gross national saving:
  14.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
  15.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
  11.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 67.1% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 11.2% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 15.1% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: 8.8% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 31.5% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -33.7% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 24% (2017 est.)
  industry: 19.5% (2017 est.)
  services: 56.4% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
  Industries:
  meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining
  Industrial production growth rate:
  5.2% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Labor force:
  13.4 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Unemployment rate:
  1.8% (2017 est.)
  1.8% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Population below poverty line:
  70.7% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 34.7% (2010 est.)
  highest 10%: 34.7% (2010 est.)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  41 (2012)
  42.7 (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Budget:
  revenues: 1.828 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 2.136 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  15.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Public debt:
  36% of GDP (2017 est.)
  38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.3% (2017 est.)
  6.7% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Central bank discount rate:
  9.5% (31 December 2017)
  8.3% (31 December 2016)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  60% (31 December 2017 est.)
  60% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.045 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $849.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.045 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $849.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $2.345 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.746 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Market value of publicly traded shares:

  NA

  Current account balance:
  -$35 million (2017 est.)
  $57 million (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Exports:
  $2.29 billion (2017 est.)
  $2.26 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Exports - partners:
  France 24.8%, US 16.5%, China 6.7%, Germany 6.5%, Japan 6%, Netherlands 4.7% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, clothing, chromite, petroleum products, gems, ilmenite, cobalt, nickel
  Imports:
  $2.738 billion (2017 est.)
  $2.427 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Imports - commodities:
  capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
  Imports - partners:
  China 18.7%, India 9.3%, France 6.4%, South Africa 5.6%, UAE 5.3% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $1.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.076 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Debt - external:
  $4.089 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $3.425 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $6.461 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.462 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

  NA

  Exchange rates:
  Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -
  3,116.1 (2017 est.)
  3,176.5 (2016 est.)
  3,176.5 (2015 est.)
  2,933.5 (2014 est.)
  2,414.8 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Madagascar
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 19.5 million (2013)
  electrification - total population: 15% (2013)
  electrification - urban areas: 37% (2013)
  electrification - rural areas: 4% (2013)
  Electricity - production:
  1.706 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Electricity - consumption:
  1.587 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  675,400 kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  24% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  18,880 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  4.021 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
- Communications :: Madagascar
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 68,792 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 8,730,499 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: system is above average for the region; competition among the four mobile service providers has spurred recent growth in the mobile market and helped the service to be less expensive for the consumer; LTE services available (2017)
  domestic: less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 35 per 100 persons (2017)
  international: country code - 261; landing point for the EASSy, SEACOM, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region); possible IOX cable in 2019 and Africa-1 cable in 2020 providing addidtional links and international cable systems (2017)
  Broadcast media:
  state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach; privately owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns; state-run radio dominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo (2007)
  Internet country code:
  .mg
  Internet users:
  total: 1,151,563 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 4.7% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
  total: 25,062 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
- Transportation :: Madagascar
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 546,946 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 30,512,607 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  5R (2016)
  Airports:
  83 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 26 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 16 (2017)
  under 914 m: 1 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 57 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 38 (2013)
  under 914 m: 18 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 836 km (2018)
  narrow gauge: 836 km 1.000-m gauge (2018)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Roadways:
  total: 37,476 km (2010)
  paved: 6,103 km (2010)
  unpaved: 31,373 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Waterways:
  600 km (432 km navigable) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Merchant marine:
  total: 28 (2017)
  by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 3, other 10 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear)
- Military and Security :: Madagascar
- Military expenditures:
  0.53% of GDP (2017)
  0.59% of GDP (2016)
  0.6% of GDP (2015)
  0.65% of GDP (2014)
  0.68% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Military branches:
  People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, Navy, Air Force (2018)
  Military service age and obligation:
  Madagascar has an all-volunteer military; 18-25 years of age for males; service obligation 18 months; women are permitted to serve in all branches (2018)
- Transnational Issues :: Madagascar
- Disputes - international:
  claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France)the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: 246,842 (cyclone in 2017) (2017)
  Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin