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Madagascar

Madagascar

Madagascar originally Republic of Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. They include the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three bird families and six baobab species.

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

Nationality:

  • noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
  • adjective: Malagasy

Capital:

  • name: Antananarivo
  • geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E
  • time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Independence:

  • 26 June 1960 (from France)

Population:

  • 20,042,551 (July 2008 est.)
  • Population growth rate:
  • 3.005% (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

  • 1.7% (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups:

  • Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo)
  • Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava)
  • French
  • Indian
  • Creole
  • Comoran

Religions:

  • indigenous beliefs 52%
  • Christian 41%
  • Muslim 7%

Languages:

  • English (official)
  • French (official)
  • Malagasy (official)

Literacy:

  • definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  • total population: 68.9%
  • male: 75.5%
  • female: 62.5% (2003 est)

Government type:

  • republic

Location:

  • Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Area - comparative:

  • slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Climate:

  • tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Natural resources:

  • graphite
  • chromite
  • coal
  • bauxite
  • salt
  • quartz
  • tar sands
  • semiprecious stones
  • mica
  • fish
  • hydropower

Economy - overview:

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.

GDP - real growth rate:

  • 6.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

  • $1,100 (2007 est.)

Background:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence 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 is now in his second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006.

Environment - current issues:

  • soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing
  • desertification
  • surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes
  • several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island

For more info please contact:
African Studies
(310) 825-3686
africa@international.ucla.edu