Madagascar

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National name: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara

Current government officials

Languages: Malagasy and French (both official), English

Ethnicity/race: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Côtiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry: Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Islam 7%

National Holiday: Independence Day, June 26

Literacy rate: 64.5% (2009 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2012 est.): $21.37 billion; per capita $1,000. Real growth rate: 1.9%. Inflation: 9.2%. Unemployment: N.A. Arable land: 5.03%. Agriculture: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products. Labor force: 9.504 million (2007). 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: $1.533 billion (2012 est.): coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products. Imports: $3.876 billion (2012 est.): capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food. Major trading partners: U.S., France, Germany, China, Kuwait, India, Bahrain, Mauritius, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 138,100 (2011); mobile cellular: 8.665 (2011). Broadcast media: state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach; privately-owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns; state-run radio dominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo (2007). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 38,392 (2012). Internet users: 319,900 (2009).

Transportation: Railways: total: 854 km (2008). Roadways: total: 65,663 km; paved: 7,617 km; unpaved: 58,046 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 600 km (432 km navigable) (2011) . Ports and terminals: Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara. Airports: 82 (2012).

International disputes: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France); the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso Islands, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands).

Major sources and definitions