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Madagascar
Madagascar
Population
32.0M
Rank #49Source: World Bank
Capital
Antananarivo
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$17.42B
Rank #133Source: World Bank
Land Area
587.0K km²
Rank #46Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
63.632 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 587,041 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
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 Hazards: periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestationvolcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times
Environmental Issues: erosion and soil degredation results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife...
Land Use: agricultural land: 71.1% (2011 est.) forest: 21.5% (2011 est.) other: 7.4% (2011 est.)
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...
Natural Resources
graphitechromitecoalbauxiterare earth elementssaltquartztar sandssemiprecious stonesmica
People & Society
Fertility Rate
3.97
Population
32.0M
Economy
GDP per Capita
$544.988
GDP per Capita PPP
1,883.537
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
510
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
36.8
(2021)
(2021)
Unemployment
3.051%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
9.874%
(2023)
(2023)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
39.4%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
83.1%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
4.683 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
9 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
34.029%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
21.296% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
20.367%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
75.456%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
0.124%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
2.491 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
199,712.5 TEU
(2019)
(2019)
Airports
5,367
Rail Lines
673 km
Roads Total
34,178 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
People's Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force; National Gendarmerie (operates under the Ministry of Defense)
Personnel Strength
the Peoples Armed Forces (PAF) have approximately 21,500 personnel (12,500 Army; 500 Navy; 500 Air Force; 8,000 Gendarmerie)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.12B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.71%
Military Expenditure History
0.6% of GDP (2019) 0.6% of GDP (2018) 0.6% of GDP (2017) 0.6% of GDP (2016) 0.6% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the PAF's inventory consists mostly of ageing Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of second-hand equipment from South Africa and France (2019)
Service Age & 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
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
40.15%
(2019)
(2019)
Primary Enrollment
132.74%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
34.132%
(2021)
(2021)
Tertiary Enrollment
6.147%
(2023)
(2023)
Education Spending
3.048% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
74.69%
(2021)
(2021)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
39.812:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.172
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
55.339%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
22.056%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
64.8 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
15.258 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
62.934
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
33
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
60%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
69.2%
(2021)
(2021)
Food Insecurity
39.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
5.586%
(2022)
(2022)
Governance
Women in Government
15.951%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-0.32
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.69
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-1.02
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.80
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.97
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.00
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
semi-presidential republic
Legal System
civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 21 January 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018 and re-appointed 19 July 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers...
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...
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...
National Symbols
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 Symbols
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
Travel Information
Language(s): French, Malagasy
Currency: MGA (Ar)
Timezone(s): UTC+03:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +261
Car Sign: RM
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
The location, widespread nature, and number of fires (outlined in red) in this satellite image suggest that these blazes were deliberately set to manage land. Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants. While fire helps enhance crops and grasses for pasture, the fires also produce smoke that degrades air quality. In Mozambique and Madagascar, the growing season runs from the first rains in October-November. Thus, the clearing of lands in this early September image heralds the new growing season. Much of the once-green isle of Madagascar has been deforested via a combination of slash and burn agriculture for rice cultivation and doro-tanetry, a less intensive burning used to augment grass growth for cattle grazing. The fires mostly burn in grass or cropland, which is tan in this image. Photo courtesy of NASA.
The location, widespread nature, and number of fires (outlined in red) in this satellite image suggest that these blazes were deliberately set to manage land. Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants. While fire helps enhance crops and grasses for pasture, the fires also produce smoke that degrades air quality. In Mozambique and Madagascar, the growing season runs from the first rains in October-November. Thus, the clearing of lands in this early September image heralds the new growing season. Much of the once-green isle of Madagascar has been deforested via a combination of slash and burn agriculture for rice cultivation and doro-tanetry, a less intensive burning used to augment grass growth for cattle grazing. The fires mostly burn in grass or cropland, which is tan in this image. Photo courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data