6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
29 percent of the population is classified as urban. Antananarivo, the capital, is the largest city, with a population (1993) of 1,052,835. Other important urban centers are Toamasina (127,441), Mahajanga (100,807), Fianarantsoa (99,005), Toliara (1990 estimate, 61,460), and Antsira?ana (54,418).
Major ethnic groups in the interior are the Merina (Hova), who make up about 27 percent of the total population, and the related Betsileo (12 percent). Members of both groups are descended primarily from people who emigrated from Indonesia by 900 ad. Coastal areas are inhabited mainly by peoples of mixed Malayo-Indonesian, black African, and Arab ancestry; among these ethnic groups are the Betsimisaraka (15 percent), Tsimihety (7 percent), Sakalava (6 percent), and Antaisaka (5 percent).
Madagascar's population consists almost entirely of the 18 to 20 Malayo-Indonesian tribal groups that inhabit the island. About half the total population is composed of the Merina, Betsmisaraka, and Betsileo groups. Since the departure of the French following independence in 1960, Madagascar's main foreign population minorities have been Comorians, Indians and Pakistanis, and Chinese. Almost half the population are traditional animists in religion, half are Christians (evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants), and a small percentage are Muslims. Malagasy languages are spoken by all the tribal groups in several dialects, and the official dialect is Merina; French is also an official language.
The people of Madagascar are believed to be descended from Indonesians and Africans who reached the island in ancient times. Diogo Dias, a Portuguese sea captain bound for India in 1500, was the first European to sight the island. During the 17th century the Portuguese, the English, and the French successively and unsuccessfully attempted to colonize Madagascar.
The Malagasy peoples are of mixed Malayo-Indonesian and Afro-Arab ancestry. The Indonesian element probably migrated to Madagascar about AD 700 by way of the African coast. The first European known to have visited the island was the Portuguese navigator Diogo Dias in 1500. The island was the haunt of many pirates during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Trade in arms and slaves allowed the development of Malagasy kingdoms. At the beginning of the 17th century the most important kingdoms, those of the Antemoro, Antesaka, Antanosy, Maroserana, Betsileo, and Merina peoples, were still confined to small areas.
The French gained a temporary foothold on the island in 1642 but were driven out in 1674. They finally acquired a few trading bases along the east coast in the following century. Their sphere of influence was restricted, however, as a result of the rise of a powerful monarchy among the Merina, a people of Malay origin in the central plateau. From 1810 to 1828, during the reign of the Merina king Radama I, who was hostile to the French, the British gained influence. British officers trained Merina troops, and British missionaries introduced schools and Christianity. Following the death of Radama, a strong reaction against European culture developed. Reforms were abolished, the missionaries were persecuted, and trade relations with Britain were severed. On the accession of Radama II (in 1861), a generally progressive ruler, some of the early reforms were reinstituted. Radama II, who was friendly to the French, was subsequently murdered by the conservative faction at the Merina court. A protracted period of strained relations and recurrent hostilities with the French culminated in 1895 in submission by the reigning monarch, Queen Ranavalona III. In 1896, as a result of popular uprisings, Madagascar was proclaimed a colony of France; military rule was instituted, and the queen was exiled.
Madagascar remains a geographic and historical paradox, linked in practice to Africa but identified in feeling with Indonesia, which is so far away as to have hardly any awareness of Madagascar or to maintain any contemporary ties of substance with it. The animal life and vegetation of the island are equally anomalous, differing greatly from that of nearby Africa and being, in many respects, unique
Although the coastlands have been known to Europeans for more than 400 years and to Arabs for much longer, recent historical development has been more intense and concentrated in the central plateau, which contains the capital city of Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive). The road network and communications are generally better on the plateau, where the majority of the inhabitants have received some school education and are professing Christians, while in the coastal areas the majority follow traditional religions and generally have not attended school.
In spite of Madagascar's proximity to the continent, its population is primarily related not to African peoples but rather to those of Indonesia, more than 3,000 miles to the east. The Malagasy peoples, moreover, do not consider themselves to be Africans, but, because of the continuing bond with France that resulted from former colonial rule, the island has developed political, economic, and cultural links with the French-speaking countries of western Africa. French and Malagasy are the country's official languages.
Madagascar has an ethnically diverse population of 15,982,563 (2001 estimate). The number of inhabitants was growing at an annual rate of 3 percent in 2001. The average population density is 27 persons per sq km (71 per sq mi), with upland areas more densely populated than coastal regions. Life expectancy at birth was 58 years for women and 53 years for men.
Madagascar can be divided into three parallel north-south zones: the central plateau, the narrow coastal strip in the east, and the zone of low plateaus and plains in the west. The central plateau, rising between 2,500 and 4,500 feet (800 and 1,400 m) above sea level and covering about 60 percent of the country's total area, rises abruptly from the narrow eastern coastal strip but descends more gradually to the wide plains of the west. Three principal massifs of the central plateau are (north to south) the Tsaratanana, whose volcanic summit (9,436 feet [2,876 m]) is the highest point on the island, the Ankaratra, and the Andringitra. The steep eastern slope of the plateau is drained by short, torrential rivers, while the more gently sloping western side is crossed by longer and larger rivers, such as the Betsiboka and Mangoky, which bring huge deposits of alluvium down into their lower valleys and estuaries, producing fertile sites that support Madagascar's most intensive cultivation. The eastern coast is almost straight; behind its coral beaches an almost continuous chain of lagoons connected by the Pangalanes Canal provides an inland waterway some 400 miles (650 km) in length. The western zone slopes gently toward the Mozambique Channel, its eroded sedimentary bedrock producing a succession of low hills.
Tropical rain forests containing valuable hardwoods are common in eastern Madagascar. Savanna woodland and grasslands predominate in the drier western regions, and desert vegetation occurs in the extreme southwest. Animal life is unusual. Lemurs, a primitive family of primate, are found chiefly in Madagascar. Although native species exhibit characteristics of both African and Indian animal life, their differences indicate they evolved on Madagascar during a long period of isolation.
Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest countries, with a gross domestic product of $3.7 billion, or $250 per person, in 1999. The economy remains, as in colonial times, predominantly agricultural, with 77 percent of the labor force engaged in agricultural activities. Many operations controlled by French interests were nationalized in 1975. During the 1980s the agricultural sector was affected by frequent cyclones and depressed prices for the country’s primary exports, and in the early 1990s strikes and political instability associated with a change in government limited economic growth. The government’s budget in 1997 included revenues of $346 million and expenditures of $689 million.
Madagascar is a developing country with a mixed economy. Agriculture dominates the economy, and the principal commodities include rice and cassava, the staple food crops, and a range of cash and export crops, particularly coffee, cloves, and vanilla. The country's agricultural output has been unable to keep pace with the growth of the population, and many staples must be imported. Madagascar's gross national product (GNP) is not growing as rapidly as the population, and its GNP per capita is among the lowest in the world.
Madagascar faces problems of chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% to export earnings. Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products. Growth in output in 1992-97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations, a decline in world coffee prices, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform. The extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants of future growth. For 2001, growth should again be about 5%.
system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links
international: submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik.
The two official languages of Madagascar are the Merina dialect of Malagasy, a language of Malayo-Indonesian origin, and French. Approximately 52 percent of the population follows traditional beliefs, 41 percent is Christian, and 7 percent is Muslim.
Action, Truth, Development, and Harmony or AFFA [Professor Albert ZAFY]; Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [leader vacant]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Rally or Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY]; Group of Reflection and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo; Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA]; Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]; Tranobe (Big House) [Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO]
In 1993 Madagascar replaced its single-party socialist system with a multiparty democracy under terms of a new constitution adopted the year before. According to this constitution, the head of state is the president, elected by the voters to a five-year term. A bicameral (two-chamber) legislature is comprised of a 150-member National Assembly, directly elected to four-year terms, and a Senate, two-thirds of which is selected by an electoral college and one-third appointed by the president, all to four-year terms. Formation of the Senate has been delayed pending local government elections, which have been postponed because of the changes in the federal government. Executive power is vested in a prime minister. In 1995 the constitution was amended by public referendum to allow the president instead of the National Assembly to appoint and dismiss the prime minister.
International organization Member
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Education is compulsory for five years in Madagascar. In 2001 the adult literacy rate had reached 80.8 percent, one of the highest rates in Africa. An estimated 73 percent of elementary school-aged children were enrolled in school in 1996, and 13 percent of those between the ages of 12 and 17 were enrolled in secondary school. The University of Antananarivo (1961) is the country’s principal institution of higher education.
Military branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,640,554 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,159,767 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 153,856 (2001 est.)
Claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
