The Republic of Madagascar, the 46th largest country and the 4th largest island in the world is located in southeastern Africa in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar is the abode of 5% of the total plants and animal species in the world. Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar.
HISTORY:- The Muslims set up trading posts along the coasts of Madagascar in the 7th century. First European contact was established in 1500, when the Portuguese captain Diogo Dias sighted the land. In 1665, French East India Company arrived in the island and colonized it. During late 18th century and early 19th century, Madagascar had transformed into a heaven of pirates. King Andrianampoinimerina governed the region from 1787 to 1810 and his son Radama I from 1810 to 1828. In the Franco-Hova War in 1883, the French invaded the island. In 1885, Madagascar became a protectorate of French Empire. In 1896, 103-year old Merina monarchy was ended and Queen Rànavàlona III was sent to exile in Algiers. Madagascar was fully colonized by the French. During the World War II, Madagascar was occupied by the British while maintaining ties with the Vichy France. In 1958, Madagascar proclaimed itself as an autonomous member within the French community. With the adoption of the constitution in 1959, Madagascar gained independence in the next year.
GEOGRAPHY:- Madagascar is situated at 20 00 S, 47 00 E in Southern Africa. The nation captures total 587,040 sq km area in which 581,540 sq km is occupied by land area and remaining 5,500 sq km area is occupied by internal water sources. The coastline is 4,828 km long bordering the Indian Ocean. The lowest point is located at the Indian Ocean (0 m) whilst the highest point is Maromokotro (2,876 m). Madagascar is formed of narrow plains along the coasts and high plateau and mountains in the center.
CLIMATE:- The climate of Madagascar varies from tropical along the coasts to temperate in the interior to arid in the southern part.
GOVERNMENT:- Madagascar is a republic. The constitution was adopted on 19th August 1992 by a national referendum. The legal system is based on the French civil law system and the traditional Malagasy codes. The three-tier government comprises:
Executive branch: It consists of the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and the cabinet. The President is elected by a popular vote on a 5-year term. The Prime minister is appointed by the President. The council of ministers is appointed by the Prime minister.
Legislative: It consists of a bicameral legislature which comprises the National Assembly (127 seats), and the Senate (100 seats).
Judicial: It consists of the Supreme Court and the High Constitutional Court.
I Love Madagascar (TIM) is the ruling party while other major political parties of Madagascar are Judged by Your Work (AVI), Rally for Social Democracy (RSPD), Pillar and Podium for the Development of Madagascar (AREMA), Militants for the Development of Madagascar (MFM) etc. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.
President Marc Ravalomanana
Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara
Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Madagascar is divided into 6 autonomous provinces and 22 regions. These regions are in turn sub-divided into 116 districts, 1,548 communes, and 16,969 fokontany.
CULTURE:- The cuisine of Madagascar revolves around rice with various accompaniments and side dishes. Valiha, sodina, kabosy are the main musical instruments used in the traditional music in Madagascar. Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo, Charlotte Arisoa Rafenomanjato, Michèle Rakotoson, Flavien Ranaivo, and Elie Rajaonarison are some of the prominent writers of the country.
ECONOMY:- Agriculture, including fishing and forestry dominates the economy of Madagascar providing 25% of the total GDP, and 80% of the total employment. Madagascar is the largest producer and exporter of vanilla in the world.
GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $15.85 billion; per capita $900.
Real growth rate: 6%.
Inflation: 10%.
Unemployment: 5.9% (1998).
Arable land: 5%.
Agriculture: Coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products.
Labor force: 7.3 million (2000).
Budget:
Revenues: $1.227 billion
Expenditures: $1.629 billion (2007 est.)
Revenues: $1.227 billion
Expenditures: $1.629 billion (2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002)
$4.6 billion (2002)
Industries: Meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism.
Natural resources: Graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower.
Exports: $951 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products.
Imports: $1.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food.
Major trading partners: U.S., France, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Mauritius, South Africa (2004).
Monetary unit: Malagasy franc
LANGUAGE:- Malagasy, English and French are the official languages of Madagascar.
CITIES:- The capital Antananarivo is the largest city of Madagascar. Other major cities are Antsirabe, Mahajanga, and Toamasina.
POPULATION:- The estimated population of the country is 19,448,815 with an average growth rate of 3.0%.
Literacy rate: 69% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 87
Literacy rate: 69% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 87
RACE:-
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo)
Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry including Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava)
French
Indian
Creole
And Comoran.
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo)
Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry including Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava)
French
Indian
Creole
And Comoran.
RELIGION:-
Indigenous beliefs 52%
Christian 41%
Muslim 7%
Indigenous beliefs 52%
Christian 41%
Muslim 7%
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 38.38 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 55.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.52 years
Total fertility rate: 5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 7,500 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 33
Birth rate: 38.38 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 55.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.52 years
Total fertility rate: 5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 7,500 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 33
UNICEF:- Almost 90% of under-5 children received deworming treatments and vitamin A supplements and UNICEF also has promoted regional campaigns to provide polio and tetanus immunizations and distributed re-treatment of bed nets. UNICEF partners with the government to improve nutrition, water and sanitation system. The government has made primary education compulsory from 5 to 7 years. Scholl enrolment including girl’s enrolment is gradually increasing. UNICEF trained more than 43000 teaches, in which about 1400 teachers are receiving education about the prevention of HIV. UNICEF also helps in birth registration, and focuses on children’s rights.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 732 km (2002).
Highways: total: 49,827 km; paved: 5,780 km; unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.).
Waterways: of local importance only.
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara. Airports: 121 (2002).
Railways: total: 732 km (2002).
Highways: total: 49,827 km; paved: 5,780 km; unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.).
Waterways: of local importance only.
Ports and harbors: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara. Airports: 121 (2002).
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