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madagascar |
2 definitions found From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Madagascar n : an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa; the 4th largest island in the world [syn: {Madagascar}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Madagascar Madagascar:Geography Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique Map references: Africa Area: total area: 587,040 sq km land area: 581,540 sq km comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 4,828 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France) Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 58% forest and woodland: 26% other: 11% Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing desertification surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered natural hazards: periodic cyclones international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification Law of the Sea Note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel Madagascar:People Population: 13,862,325 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (female 3,231,647; male 3,265,715) 15-64 years: 50% (female 3,511,699; male 3,413,564) 65 years and over: 3% (female 225,205; male 214,495) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 3.18% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 44.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 12.99 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 86.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.45 years male: 52.47 years female: 56.48 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.62 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy Ethnic divisions: 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: French (official), Malagasy (official) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73% Labor force: total workers: 4.9 million workers not receiving money wages: 4.7 million (96% of total labor force); note - 4.3 million workers are in subsistence agriculture wage earners: 175,000 (3.6% of total work force) wage earners by occupation: agriculture 45,500, domestic service 29,750, industry 26,250, commerce 24,500, construction 19,250, service 15,750, transportation 10,500, other 3,500 (1985 est.) Madagascar:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar local short form: Madagascar former: Malagasy Republic Digraph: MA Type: republic Capital: Antananarivo Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Antananarivo, Antsiranana Fianarantsoa Mahajanga Toamasina Toliary Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day 26 June (1960) Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Albert ZAFY (since 9 March 1993); election last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY (UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33% head of government: Prime Minister Francisque RAVONY (since 9 August 1993) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate (Senat): two-thirds of upper house seats are to be filled from popularly elected regional assemblies; the remaining third is to be filled by presidential appointment; decentralization and formation of regional assemblies is not expected before 1997 National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 16 June 1993 (next to be held June 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA seats - (138 total) CFV coalition 76, PMDM/MFM 16, CSCD 11, Famima 10, RPSD 7, various pro-Ratsiraka groups 10, others 8 Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle) Political parties and leaders: Committee of Living Forces (CFV), an alliance of National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD), Support Group for Democracy and Development in Madagascar (CSDDM), Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar (GRAD), Congress Party for Madagascar Independence - Renewal (AKFM-Fanavaozana), and some 12 other parties, trade unions, and religious groups; Militant Party for the Development of Madagascar (PMDM/MFM), formerly the Movement for Proletarian Power, Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA Confederation of Civil Societies for Development (CSCD), Guy Willy RAZANAMASY Association of United Malagasys (Famima); Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Pierre TSIRANANA Other political or pressure groups: National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM); Federalist Movement Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN UNCTAD UNESCO, UNHCR UNIDO UNMIH UPU, WCL, WFTU WHO WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pierrot Jocelyn RAJAONARIVELO chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526 consulate(s) general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis P. BARRETT embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo Antsahavola Antananarivo mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18 FAX: [261] (2) 345-39 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red top and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side Economy Overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education facilities, a 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 over 30% of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total export earnings. Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted for only 13% of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990, increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports. Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political reform. Since 1993, corruption and political instability have caused the economy and infrastructure to decay further. Since April 1994, the government commitment to economic reforms has been erratic. Enormous obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 2.8% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $790 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $250 million expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180 million (1991 est.) Exports: $240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar, petroleum products partners: France, US Germany, Japan, Russia Imports: $510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%, petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13% partners: France, Germany, Japan, UK Italy, Netherlands External debt: $4.3 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1993 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 220,000 kW production: 560 million kWh consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1993) Industries: agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories, breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods industries (textiles, glassware), cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum Agriculture: accounts for 31% of GDP; cash crops - coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa; food crops - rice, cassava, beans, bananas, peanuts; cattle raising widespread; almost self-sufficient in rice Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $136 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.125 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $491 million Currency: 1 Malagasy franc (FMG) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Malagasy francs (FMG) per US$1 - 3,718.0 (November 1994), 1,913.8 (1993), 1,864.0 (1992), 1,835.4 (1991), 1,454.6 (December 1990) Fiscal year: calendar year Madagascar:Transportation Railroads: total: 1,020 km narrow gauge: 1,020 km 1.000-m gauge Highways: total: 40,000 km paved: 4,694 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 811 km other earth 34,495 km (est.) Inland waterways: of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Canal des Pangalanes Ports: Antsiranana Mahajanga Port Saint-Louis, Toamasina Toliaria Merchant marine: total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,261 GRT/28,193 DWT ships by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 Airports: total: 138 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21 with paved runways under 914 m: 42 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 64 Madagascar:Communications Telephone system: NA telephones; above average system local: NA intercity: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links international: submarine cable to Bahrain; 1 earth station for Indian Ocean INTELSAT Radio: broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 36) televisions: NA Madagascar:Defense Forces Branches: Popular Armed Forces (includes Intervention Forces, Development Forces, Aeronaval Forces - includes Navy and Air Force), Gendarmerie, Presidential Security Regiment Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,027,156; males fit for military service 1,800,127; males reach military age (20) annually 130,071 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $35 million, 1.3% of GDP (1991)
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