Madagascar

Introduction

Background

Madagascar was one of the last major habitable landmasses on earth settled by humans. While some transient visits to the island may have occurred in the centuries B.C., large-scale settlement began between A.D. 350 and 550 with settlers from present-day Indonesia. 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, 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 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. In January 2019, RAJOELINA was declared the winner of a runoff election against RAVALOMANANA; both RATSIRAKA and RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA also ran in the first round of the election, which took place in November 2018.

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: 587,041 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: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
continental shelf: 200nm 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
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

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

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, 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:

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 (2018 est.)
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.1 years
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 (2018 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: 37.9% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 4.48% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.21 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2019)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2018 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

335 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Infant mortality rate

total: 40.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 43.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 44

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.6 years (2018 est.)
male: 65.1 years
female: 68.2 years
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

47.9% (2017)

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.)

Current Health Expenditure

6% (2016)

Physicians density

0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Hospital bed density

0.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)

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% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

39,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

32.9% (2013)
country comparison to the world: 6

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 147

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.7%
male: 66.7%
female: 62.6% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2016)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 1%
male: 1%
female: 1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Government

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)
etymology: the name, which means "City of the Thousand," was bestowed by 17th century King Adrianjakaking to honor the soldiers assigned to guard the city

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
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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 21 January 2019) (2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018 and re-appointed 19 July 2019)
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 7 November and 19 December 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president
election results: Andry RAJOELINA elected President in second round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3% (TIM)

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate or Antenimieran-Doholona (reestablished on 22 January 2016, following the December 2015 senatorial election) (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 5-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 5-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 29 December 2015 (next to be held in 2021)
National Assembly - last held on 27 May 2019
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - HVM 34, TIM 3, MAPAR 2, LEADER-Fanilo 1, independent 2, appointed by the president 21; composition - men 51, women 12, percent of women 19%
National Assembly - percent of vote by party -Independent Pro-HVM 18%, MAPAR 17%, MAPAR pro-HVM 16%, VPM-MMM 10%, VERTS 3%, LEADER FANILO 3%, HIARAKA ISIKA 3%, GPS/ARD 7%,  INDEPENDENT 9%, TAMBATRA 1%, TIM 13%;  composition - men 120, women 31, percent of women 20.5%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 20.1%

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, 7-year terms
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance

Political parties and leaders

Economic liberalism and democratic action for national recovery or LEADER FANILO [Jean Max RAKOTOMAMONJY]
FOMBA [Ny Rado RAFALIMANANA]
Gideons fighting against poverty in Madagascar (Gedeona Miady amin'ny Fahantrana eto Madagascar) or GFFM [Andre Christian Dieu Donne MAILHOL]
Green party or VERTS (Antoko Maintso) [Alexandre GEORGET]
I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]
Malagasy aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS [Roland RATSIRAKA]
Malagasy raising together (Malagasy Miara-Miainga) or MMM [Hajo ANDRIANAINARIVELO]
New Force for Madagascar (Hery Vaovao ho an'ny Madagasikara) or HVM [Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimanana]
Total Refoundation of Madagascar (Refondation Totale de Madagascar) or RTM [Joseph Martin RANDRIAMAMPIONONA]
Vanguard for the renovation of Madagascar (Avant-Garde pour la renovation de Madagascar) or AREMA [Didier RATSIRAKA]
Young Malagasies Determined (Malagasy: Tanora malaGasy Vonona) or TGV [Andry RAJOELINA]and MAPAR [Andry RAJOELINA], and IRD (We are all with Andy Rajoelina) [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

(vacant)
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 Michael PELLETIER (since 14 February 2019)
telephone: [261] 20 23 480 00
embassy: Lot 207A, Point Liberty, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo
mailing address: B.P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
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

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.)

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%: 2.2%
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

Electricity access

population without electricity: 20 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 22.9% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 67.3% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 17.3% (2016)

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 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

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

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 68,792
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 8,730,499
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 (2018)
domestic: less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 35 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 261; landing points for the EASSy, METISS, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems connecting to numerous Indian Ocean Islands, South Africa, and Eastern African countries; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2019)

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 (2019)

Internet country code

.mg

Internet users

total: 1,151,563
percent of population: 4.7% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 25,062
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Military and Security

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2018)
0.58% of GDP (2017)
0.59% of GDP (2016)
0.6% of GDP (2015)
0.65% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 142

Military and security forces

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)

Transportation

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: 30,512,607mt-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 km1.000-m gauge (2018)
country comparison to the world: 96

Roadways

total: 31,640 km (2018)
country comparison to the world: 95

Waterways

600 km(432 km navigable) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 79

Merchant marine

total: 28
by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 3, other 10 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 128

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear)

Transnational Issues

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)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

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