The Republic of Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean
located in Southern Africa, east of Mozambique. The government is a
republic. Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a
French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960.
Madagascar’s total population is 20,653,556. The languages of
Madagascar are English (official), French (official), and Malagasy
(official). It has a tropical climate along the coast, a
temperate climate inland, and arid in south. Natural hazards
consist of severe periodic cyclones; drought; and locust
infestation. Madagascar has natural resources of graphite,
chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious
stones, mica, fish, and hydropower. 50% of Madagascar’s citizens
are below the poverty line.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.13 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123 note: data are in 2008
US dollars
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Currency: 1 United States
Dollar = 1,654.78 Malagasy ariary (MGA) (2008 est.)
Environment - current issues:
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the
hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population
to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant
poaching for ivory is a problem.
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 54.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 59.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 62.89 years
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 60.93 years
female: 64.91 years (2009 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
5.14 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)