factbook.json/africa/ma.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "Madagascar was one of the last major habitable landmasses on earth to be settled by humans. While there is some evidence of human presence on the island in the millennia B.C., large-scale settlement began between A.D. 350 and 550 with settlers from present-day Indonesia. The island attracted Arab and Persian traders as early as the 7th century, and migrants from Africa arrived around A.D. 1000. Madagascar was a pirate stronghold during the late 17th and early 18th centuries and served as a slave trading center into the 19th century. From the 16th to the late 19th century, a native Merina Kingdom dominated much of Madagascar. The French conquered the island in 1896 and made it a colony; independence was regained in 1960. <br><br>Free presidential and National Assembly elections were held in 1992-93, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing half the country to secede. In 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. He won a second term in 2006 but, following protests in 2009, handed over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. After a lengthy mediation process, Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA won in a runoff and was inaugurated in 2014. In 2019, RAJOELINA was declared the winner against RAVALOMANANA. In 2023, RAJOELINA won another term in an election that most of the opposition boycotted, including RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA and RAVALOMANANA, who claimed it was rigged in favor of RAJOELINA. International observers, however, saw no evidence of systemic fraud, leading the international community to accept the election results."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "20 00 S, 47 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Africa"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "587,041 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "581,540 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "5,501 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "4,828 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "24 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Maromokotro 2,876 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Indian Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "615 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "70.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 5.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 64.1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "21.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "8.4% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "10,860 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar&rsquo;s close proximity to the African continent, ocean currents isolate the island, resulting in high rates of endemic plant and animal species; approximately 90% of the flora and fauna on the island are found nowhere else"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "29,452,714 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "14,760,501"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "14,692,213"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Malagasy (singular and plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Malagasy"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Malagasy (official) 99.9%, French (official) 23.6%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "37% (male 5,507,847/female 5,400,551)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "59.1% (male 8,720,012/female 8,673,880)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "3.9% (2024 est.) (male 532,642/female 617,782)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "69.3 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "62.7 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "6.6 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "15.1 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "21.3 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "21.1 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "21.5 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "2.18% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "27.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "40.6% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.01 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.86 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "19.5 years (2021 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "445 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "37.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "40.9 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "34 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "68.8 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "67.3 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "70.3 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "3.47 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "1.71 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "49.7% (2020)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 85% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 38% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 56.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 15% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 62% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 43.9% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Health expenditure": {
      "Health expenditure (as % of GDP)": {
        "text": "3.5% of GDP (2021)"
      },
      "Health expenditure (as % of national budget)": {
        "text": "5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 49.2% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 22.1% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 32.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 50.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 77.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 67.4% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "5.3% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24.1% (2025 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "40.2% (2025 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "8.2% (2025 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "22.6% (2021)"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "60.1% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Child marriage": {
      "women married by age 15": {
        "text": "12.7% (2021)"
      },
      "women married by age 18": {
        "text": "38.8% (2021)"
      },
      "men married by age 18": {
        "text": "11.2% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Education expenditure": {
      "Education expenditure (% GDP)": {
        "text": "3% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Education expenditure (% national budget)": {
        "text": "18% national budget (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "74.7% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "77.9% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "71.8% (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "10 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "10 years (2018)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environmental issues": {
      "text": "erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation&nbsp;"
    },
    "International environmental agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "70.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 5.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 64.1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "21.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "8.4% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "40.6% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "16.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "3.91 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "10.14 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "3,768,759 tons (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "160 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "13 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "337 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Madagascar"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Madagascar"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "R&eacute;publique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Madagascar/Madagasikara"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Malagasy Republic"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "a variant of the name was first used by 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO when he confused the island with the Somali port of Mogadishu; the transliteration was later adopted as the official name"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "semi-presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Antananarivo"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "18 55 S, 47 31 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name means \"City of the Thousand,\" from the Malagasy <em>an</em>- (a prefix denoting a place name), <em>tanana </em>(town), and <em>arivo </em>(thousand); in the 17th century, King ADRIANJAKA named the original fortress after the 1,000 soldiers stationed there"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "6 provinces (<em>faritany</em>); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010"
      },
      "amendment process": {
        "text": "proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar&rsquo;s collectivities, cannot be amended"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "unknown"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Andry RAJOELINA (since 16 December 2023)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister"
      },
      "election/appointment process": {
        "text": "president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "16 November 2023"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em><br>2023</em>: Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5%<br><em><br>2018</em>: Andry RAJOELINA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 39.2%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 35.4%, other 25.4%; percent of vote in second round - Andry RAJOELINA 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "November 2028"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "bicameral"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - lower chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "163 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "mixed system"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "5/29/2024"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR) (84); Firaisankina (22); Independents (50); Other (7)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "14.1%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "May 2029"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - upper chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "Senate (Antenimierandoholona)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "12/11/2020"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "11.1%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "December 2025"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 11 members; addresses cases brought against the president of Madagascar and senior officials for high treason, grave violations of the Constitution, or breach of duties incompatible with the exercise of the presidential mandate)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 7-year terms; High Court of Justice members include: first president of the Supreme Court; 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation; 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal; 2 deputies&nbsp; from the National Assembly; 2 senators from the Senate; 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP<br>I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM<br>Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD<br>Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS<br>Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY<br>Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM<br>Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao<br>Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 265-5525"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 265-3034"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com<br><br>https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[261] 33-44-320-00"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[261] 33-44-320-35"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>antanACS@state.gov<br><br>https://mg.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "26 June 1960 (from France)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 26 June (1960)"
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu"
    },
    "National color(s)": {
      "text": "red, green, white"
    },
    "National anthem(s)": {
      "title": {
        "text": "\"Ry Tanindraza nay malala o\" (O Our Beloved Fatherland)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA"
      },
      "history": {
        "text": "adopted 1959"
      }
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests&nbsp; (n)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "low-income East African island economy; natural resource rich; extreme poverty; return of political stability has helped growth; sharp tax revenue drop due to COVID-19; leading vanilla producer; environmentally fragile"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$51.265 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$49.388 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$47.488 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "3.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "4% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "5.74% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$1,600 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$1,600 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$1,600 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$15.79 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "9.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "8.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "5.8% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "22.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "22.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "44.7% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "63.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "22.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "21.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "26.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-33.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "2.91% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "16.519 million (2024 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2024": {
        "text": "3% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "3.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "3.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5.4% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "5.3% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5.4% (2024 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "2.44% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "2.55% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "3.02% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$1.756 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$1.523 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "36% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "9.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$829.376 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$721.953 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2020": {
        "text": "-$623.653 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$4.689 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$3.362 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$2.589 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "USA 16%, France 15%, Japan 8%, China 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "garments, nickel, vanilla, cloves, gold (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$6.041 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$4.769 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$3.718 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "China 19%, Oman 13%, France 10%, India 8%, South Africa 5% (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, rice, fabric, cotton fabric, wheat (2023)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024": {
        "text": "$2.785 billion (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$2.632 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$2.16 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$3.548 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2024": {
        "text": "4,525.425 (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "4,429.579 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "4,096.116 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "3,829.978 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "3,787.754 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "36.1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "71.6%"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "10.9%"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "759,000 kW (2023 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "139 million kWh (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "150 million metric tons (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "1.057 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": {
        "text": "1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "3,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2023 est.) less than 1"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "25.4 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "70 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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 (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".mg"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "20% (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "34,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "(2023 est.) less than 1"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "5R"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "93 (2025)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "836 km (2018)"
      },
      "narrow gauge": {
        "text": "836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "29 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "13 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "11"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "5"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Madagascar Armed Forces (aka Armed forces of the Republic of Madagascar); Malagasy Army, Naval Forces (or National Navy), Air Force; Malagasy National Gendarmerie (2025)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>the National Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense but separate from the PAF and is responsible for maintaining law and order in rural areas at the village level, protecting government facilities, and operating a maritime police contingent; the National Police under the Ministry of Security is responsible for maintaining law and order in urban areas"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2024": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "estimated 13,000 Armed Forces; estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2025)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand weapons and equipment originating from countries such as France, South Africa, the UAE, the UK, and the former Soviet Union (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18-25 years of age for men and women; service obligation 18 months; no conscription; women are permitted to serve in all branches (2023)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "the military&rsquo;s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar&rsquo;s maritime domain, particularly against piracy, drug trafficking, and smuggling; it also assists the Gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, largely in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling, and criminal groups; the military has a history of having influence in domestic politics; members of the military were arrested for coup plotting as recently as 2021; security relationships have included France, India, and Russia; Madagascar's small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2025)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Trafficking in persons": {
      "tier rating": {
        "text": "Tier 2 Watch List — the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Madagascar was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/madagascar/"
      }
    }
  }
}