Madagascar: Fact file

Updated May 2008

Name Republic of Madagascar
Area 587 041 sq km (Frame 2008, 689)
Capital Antananarivo
Major cities Toamasina, Antsirabé, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toliary, Antsiranana (Frame 2008, 689)
Boundaries Indian Ocean (island)
Population 18.6 million, 2005 (UNDP 2007/8)
Pop growth rate 2.6%, 2005-2015 (UNDP 2007/8)
Urbanisation 26.8%, 2005 (UNDP 2007/8)
Life expectancy Female 60.1 yrs, male 56.7 yrs; 2005 (UNDP 2007/8)
Infant mortality 74/1000, 2005 (UNDP 2007/8)
HIV/AIDS prevalence 0.14%, adults; 2007 est (Madagascar 2008, 4)
Adult literacy rate Female 65.3%, male 76.5%; 2005 (UNDP 2007/8)
Military expenditure 1.1% of GDP; 2005 (UNDP 2007/8)
Health expenditure 1.8% of GDP; 2004 (UNDP 2007/8)
Legal system French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law (NationMaster undated)
Independence June 26, 1960, from France
GDP $7.322 billion, 2007 est (IMF 2008a)
GDP per capita $431.43, 2007 est (IMF 2008a)
GDP growth rate 6.3%, 2007 est (IMF 2008a)
Main exports Vanilla, shellfish, coffee (Frame 2008, 692)
Currency 100 centimes = 1 ariary
Unemployment 4.5%, 2002 (Tiscali 2008)
Inflation rate 10.3%, 2007 est (IMF 2008a)
External debt ratio 26.7% of GDP, 2007 (IMF 2008b)
Roads 25 500 km, 5 500 tarred (Madagascar Consulate General Undated)
Rail 870km (Madagascar Consulate General Undated)
Airports 51, 29 paved (SADC 2007)
Ethnic groups The major ethnic fault line runs between the people of highland orgin (Merina, Betsileo) and the people of coastal origin (côtiers - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety & Antandroy) (Frame 2008, 675)
Languages Official: French, English; National: Malagasy
Religion Christian 49.5% (half Catholic and half Protestant), traditional religions 48.0%, Muslims 2.0% (Religious Freedom 2001)

References

FRAME, I 2008 (ed) Africa South of the Sahara 2008, Routledge.

IMF 2008a World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008, [www] http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/index.aspx [opens new window] (accessed 21 Apr 2008).

IMF 2008b Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa, 118, [www] http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/reo/2007/AFR/ENG/sreo0407.pdf, [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 22 Apr 2008).

MADAGASCAR 2008 "Rapport de situation national a l'intention de l'UNGASS Madagascar" IN 2008 progress reports submitted by countries, UNAIDS, [www] http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/madagascar_2008_country_progress_report_fr.pdf [PDF document, opens in window] (accessed 5 May 2008).

MADAGASCAR CONSULATE GENERAL CAPE TOWN UNDATED, "Infrastructure: sectors of opportunity", http://www.madagascarconsulate.org.za/infrastructure.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Apr 2008).

NATIONMASTER UNDATED "Legal system (most recent) by country", [www] http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/gov_leg_sys-government-legal-system [opens new window] (accessed 23 Apr 2008).

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 2001 "Nation profile: Madagascar", [www] http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Madagascar/rbodies.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Apr 2008).

SADC 2007 "Madagascar" IN Country Profiles, 131, [www] http://www.sadcreview.com/pdfs07/madagascar2007_08.pdf [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 23 Apr 2008).

TISCALI 2008 "Madagascar" IN Encyclopedia, [www] http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/countryfacts/madagascar.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Apr 2008).

UNDP 2007/8 "Madagascar", IN Human Development Report 2007/8, [www] http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_MDG.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Apr 2008).