Madagascar: Fact file
Updated November 2010
| Name | Republic of Madagascar |
| Area | 587 041 sq km |
| Capital | Antananarivo |
| Major cities | Toamasina, Antsirabé, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toliary, Antsiranana (Frame 2008, 689) |
| Boundaries | Indian Ocean (island) |
| Population | 20.146 million, 2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009a) |
| Natural pop growth | 2.69%, 2005-2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009b) |
| Urbanisation | 29.1%, 2007 est (UN Statistics Division undated) |
| Life expectancy | Female 61.8 yrs, male 58.5 yrs; 2005-2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009c, 2009d) |
| Infant mortality | 65/1000, 2005-2010 est (UN Statistics Division 2009e) |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence | 0.1%, 15-49 yr 2007 est (UN Statistics Division 2009f) |
| Adult literacy rate | 71%; 2003-2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2010a) |
| Military expenditure | 1.1% of GDP; 2008 (UN Statistics Division 2010b) |
| Health expenditure | 3.2% of GDP; 2005 (UN Statistics Division 2008) |
| Legal system | French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law (NationMaster undated) |
| Independence | June 26, 1960, from France |
| GDP | US$8.969 billion, 2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2010c) |
| GDP per capita | US$488, 2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2009g) |
| GDP growth rate | 6.9%, 2008 est (UN Statistics Division 2010d) |
| Main exports | Vanilla, shellfish, coffee (Frame 2008, 692) |
| Currency | 100 centimes = 1 ariary |
| Unemployment | no data |
| Inflation rate | 9.6%, 2008 (UN Statistics Division 2010e) |
| External debt ratio | 27.3% of GDP, 2009 (IMF 2010, 95) |
| Roads | Total 25 641 km (66% poor), paved 5 045 km (25% poor), unpaved 20 596 km (77% poor); 2008 (World Bank 2009) |
| 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 ±50% (half Catholic and half Protestant), Muslims 10-15%, remainrd mainly Malagasy Traditional religion (US Department of State 2009) |
References
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