factbook.json/africa/mg-madagascar.json

{
  "intro": {
    "background": {
      "text": "Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. RAVALOMANANA achieved a second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006. In early 2009, protests over increasing restrictions on opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA handing 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. Numerous attempts have been made by regional and international organizations to resolve the subsequent political gridlock by forming a power-sharing government. Madagascar's independent electoral commission and the UN originally planned to hold a presidential election in early May 2013, but postponed the election until late July 2013, due to logistical delays."
    }
  },
  "geo": {
    "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": "587,041 sq km",
      "land": "581,540 sq km",
      "water": "5,501 sq km"
    },
    "area_comparative": {
      "text": "slightly less than twice the size of Arizona"
    },
    "land_boundaries": {
      "text": "0 km"
    },
    "coastline": {
      "text": "4,828 km"
    },
    "maritime_claims": {
      "territorial_sea": "12 nm",
      "contiguous_zone": "24 nm",
      "exclusive_economic_zone": "200 nm",
      "continental_shelf": "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_extremes": {
      "lowest_point": "Indian Ocean 0 m",
      "highest_point": "Maromokotro 2,876 m"
    },
    "natural_resources": {
      "text": "graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower"
    },
    "land_use": {
      "arable_land": "5.96%",
      "permanent_crops": "1.02%",
      "other": "93.02% (2011)"
    },
    "irrigated_land": {
      "text": "10,860 sq km (2003)"
    },
    "total_renewable_water_resources": {
      "text": "337 cu km (2011)"
    },
    "freshwater_withdrawal_domestic_industrial_agricultural": {
      "total": "16.5  cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%)",
      "per_capita": "1,010  cu m/yr (2005)"
    },
    "natural_hazards": {
      "text": "periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation",
      "volcanism": "Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in historical times"
    },
    "environment_current_issues": {
      "text": "soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island"
    },
    "environment_international_agreements": {
      "party_to": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands",
      "signed_but_not_ratified": "none of the selected agreements"
    },
    "geography_note": {
      "text": "world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel"
    }
  },
  "people": {
    "nationality": {
      "noun": "Malagasy (singular and plural)",
      "adjective": "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": "French (official), Malagasy (official), English"
    },
    "religions": {
      "text": "indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%"
    },
    "population": {
      "text": "22,599,098 (July 2013 est.)"
    },
    "age_structure": {
      "0_14_years": "41.1% (male 4,678,675/female 4,599,636)",
      "15_24_years": "20.6% (male 2,332,608/female 2,323,409)",
      "25_54_years": "31.1% (male 3,514,600/female 3,507,724)",
      "55_64_years": "4.1% (male 445,159/female 485,846)",
      "65_years_and_over": "3.1% (male 322,706/female 388,735) (2013 est.)"
    },
    "dependency_ratios": {
      "total_dependency_ratio": "82.5 %",
      "youth_dependency_ratio": "77.4 %",
      "elderly_dependency_ratio": "5.1 %",
      "potential_support_ratio": "19.5 (2013)"
    },
    "median_age": {
      "total": "19 years",
      "male": "18.8 years",
      "female": "19.2 years (2013 est.)"
    },
    "population_growth_rate": {
      "text": "2.65% (2013 est.)"
    },
    "birth_rate": {
      "text": "33.58 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)"
    },
    "death_rate": {
      "text": "7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)"
    },
    "net_migration_rate": {
      "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)"
    },
    "urbanization": {
      "urban_population": "32.6% of total population (2011)",
      "rate_of_urbanization": "4.73% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)"
    },
    "major_urban_areas_population": {
      "text": "ANTANANARIVO (capital) 1.816 million (2009)"
    },
    "sex_ratio": {
      "at_birth": "1.03 male(s)/female",
      "0_14_years": "1.02 male(s)/female",
      "15_24_years": "1 male(s)/female",
      "25_54_years": "1 male(s)/female",
      "55_64_years": "0.91 male(s)/female",
      "65_years_and_over": "0.83 male(s)/female",
      "total_population": "1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)"
    },
    "mother_s_mean_age_at_first_birth": {
      "text": "19.5",
      "note": "Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)"
    },
    "maternal_mortality_rate": {
      "text": "240 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)"
    },
    "infant_mortality_rate": {
      "total": "46.13 deaths/1,000 live births",
      "male": "50.17 deaths/1,000 live births",
      "female": "41.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)"
    },
    "life_expectancy_at_birth": {
      "total_population": "64.85 years",
      "male": "63.45 years",
      "female": "66.29 years (2013 est.)"
    },
    "total_fertility_rate": {
      "text": "4.36 children born/woman (2013 est.)"
    },
    "contraceptive_prevalence_rate": {
      "text": "39.9% (2008/09)"
    },
    "health_expenditures": {
      "text": "3.8% of GDP (2010)"
    },
    "physicians_density": {
      "text": "0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2007)"
    },
    "hospital_bed_density": {
      "text": "0.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)"
    },
    "drinking_water_source": {
      "improved": "urban: 74% of population; rural: 34% of population; total: 46% of population",
      "unimproved": "urban: 26% of population; rural: 66% of population; total: 54% of population (2010 est.)"
    },
    "sanitation_facility_access": {
      "improved": "urban: 21% of population; rural: 12% of population; total: 15% of population",
      "unimproved": "urban: 79% of population; rural: 88% of population; total: 85% of population (2010 est.)"
    },
    "hiv_aids_adult_prevalence_rate": {
      "text": "0.2% (2009 est.)"
    },
    "hiv_aids_people_living_with_hiv_aids": {
      "text": "24,000 (2009 est.)"
    },
    "hiv_aids_deaths": {
      "text": "1,700 (2009 est.)"
    },
    "major_infectious_diseases": {
      "degree_of_risk": "very high",
      "food_or_waterborne_diseases": "bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever",
      "vectorborne_diseases": "malaria and dengue fever",
      "water_contact_disease": "schistosomiasis",
      "animal_contact_disease": "rabies (2013)"
    },
    "obesity_adult_prevalence_rate": {
      "text": "1.6% (2008)"
    },
    "children_under_the_age_of_5_years_underweight": {
      "text": "36.8% (2004)"
    },
    "education_expenditures": {
      "text": "2.8% of GDP (2011)"
    },
    "literacy": {
      "definition": "age 15 and over can read and write",
      "total_population": "64.5%",
      "male": "67.4%",
      "female": "61.6% (2009 est.)"
    },
    "school_life_expectancy_primary_to_tertiary_education": {
      "total": "10 years",
      "male": "11 years",
      "female": "10 years (2009)"
    },
    "child_labor_children_ages_5_14": {
      "total_number": "1,827,423",
      "percentage": "28 %",
      "note": "data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)"
    },
    "unemployment_youth_ages_15_24": {
      "total": "2.3%",
      "male": "1.7%",
      "female": "2.8% (2005)"
    }
  },
  "govt": {
    "country_name": {
      "conventional_long_form": "Republic of Madagascar",
      "conventional_short_form": "Madagascar",
      "local_long_form": "Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara",
      "local_short_form": "Madagascar/Madagasikara",
      "former": "Malagasy Republic"
    },
    "government_type": {
      "text": "republic"
    },
    "capital": {
      "name": "Antananarivo",
      "geographic_coordinates": "18 55 S, 47 31 E",
      "time_difference": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)"
    },
    "administrative_divisions": {
      "text": "6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara"
    },
    "independence": {
      "text": "26 June 1960 (from France)"
    },
    "national_holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 26 June (1960)"
    },
    "constitution": {
      "text": "passed by referendum 17 November 2010; promulgated 11 December 2010 (2010)"
    },
    "legal_system": {
      "text": "civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation"
    },
    "international_law_organization_participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "executive_branch": {
      "chief_of_state": "President Andry Nirina RAJOELINA (since 18 March 2009)",
      "head_of_government": "Prime Minister Jean Omer BERIZIKY (since 2 November 2011)",
      "cabinet": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister",
      "elections": "president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 December 2006 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president; note - a power-sharing agreement concluded in September 2011 established conditions for general elections, expected toward the end of 2013 after repeated delays",
      "election_results": "percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%; note - RAVALOMANANA stepped down on 17 March 2009",
      "note": "on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc RAVALOMANANA stepped down handing the government over to the military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA; a power-sharing agreement established a 15-month transition period to conclude with general elections in 2010, which failed to occur; a subsequent agreement aimed for elections in early 2013 which have since slid and are now expected late in 2013"
    },
    "legislative_branch": {
      "text": "bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the members appointed by regional assemblies; the remaining one-third appointed by the president; members to serve four-year terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127 seats - reduced from 160 seats by an April 2007 national referendum; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)",
      "elections": "National Assembly - last held on 23 September 2007 (next to be concurrent with presidential elections); note - a power-sharing agreement in the summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in general elections tentatively scheduled for late 2013 after repeated delays",
      "election_results": "National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TIM 106, LEADER/Fanilo 1, independents 20"
    },
    "judicial_branch": {
      "highest_courts": "Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members) note - the judiciary includes a High Court of Justice responsible for adjudicating crimes and misdemeanors by government officials including the president",
      "judge_selection_and_term_of_office": "Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve single-renewable, 3-year terms;  High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 6-year terms",
      "subordinate_courts": "Courts of Appeal; provincial and city tribunals"
    },
    "political_parties_and_leaders": {
      "text": "Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]; Democratic Party for Union in Madagascar or PSDUM [Jean LAHINIRIKO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; Green Party or Vert [Sarah Georget RABEHARISOA]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]"
    },
    "political_pressure_groups_and_leaders": {
      "text": "Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM"
    },
    "international_organization_participation": {
      "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF (suspended), OPCW, PCA, SADC (suspended), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "diplomatic_representation_in_the_us": {
      "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Velotiana Rakotoanosy RAOBELINA",
      "chancery": "2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008",
      "telephone": "[1] (202) 265-5525 through 5526",
      "fax": "[1] (202) 265-3034",
      "consulates_general": "New York"
    },
    "diplomatic_representation_from_the_us": {
      "chief_of_mission": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric WONG",
      "embassy": "Lot 207A, Point Liberty, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo",
      "mailing_address": "B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo",
      "telephone": "[261] (23) 480 00/01",
      "fax": "[261] (23) 480 35"
    },
    "flag_description": {
      "text": "two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity"
    },
    "national_anthem": {
      "name": "\"Ry Tanindraza nay malala o\" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)",
      "lyrics_music": "Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA",
      "note": "adopted 1959"
    }
  },
  "econ": {
    "economy_overview": {
      "text": "After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s, Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization that has been undermined since the start of the political crisis. This strategy placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US, however, Madagascar's failure to comply with the requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) led to the termination of the country's duty-free access in January 2010 and a sharp fall in textile production. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. The current political crisis, which began in early 2009, has dealt additional blows to the economy. Tourism dropped more than 50% in 2009 compared with the previous year, and many investors are wary of entering the uncertain investment environment. Growth was anemic during 2010 to 2012 although expansion in mining and agricultural sectors is expected to contribute to more growth in 2013."
    },
    "gdp_purchasing_power_parity": {
      "text": "$21.76 billion (2012 est.); $21.35 billion (2011 est.); $20.97 billion (2010 est.)",
      "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars"
    },
    "gdp_official_exchange_rate": {
      "text": "$10.12 billion (2012 est.)"
    },
    "gdp_real_growth_rate": {
      "text": "1.9% (2012 est.); 1.8% (2011 est.); 0.4% (2010 est.)"
    },
    "gdp_per_capita_ppp": {
      "text": "$1,000 (2012 est.); $1,000 (2011 est.); $1,000 (2010 est.)",
      "note": "data are in 2012 US dollars"
    },
    "gross_national_saving": {
      "text": "-1% of GDP (2012 est.); -2.3% of GDP (2011 est.); -4% of GDP (2010 est.)"
    },
    "gdp_composition_by_end_use": {
      "household_consumption": "85.7%",
      "government_consumption": "11.9%",
      "investment_in_fixed_capital": "18.7%",
      "investment_in_inventories": "0%",
      "exports_of_goods_and_services": "28.5%",
      "imports_of_goods_and_services": "-44.8% (2012 est.)"
    },
    "gdp_composition_by_sector_of_origin": {
      "agriculture": "27.9%",
      "industry": "16.2%",
      "services": "55.8% (2012 est.)"
    },
    "agriculture_products": {
      "text": "coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products"
    },
    "industries": {
      "text": "meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism"
    },
    "industrial_production_growth_rate": {
      "text": "2.7% (2012 est.)"
    },
    "labor_force": {
      "text": "9.504 million (2007)"
    },
    "population_below_poverty_line": {
      "text": "50% (2004 est.)"
    },
    "household_income_or_consumption_by_percentage_share": {
      "lowest_10%": "2.2%",
      "highest_10%": "34.7% (2010 est.)"
    },
    "distribution_of_family_income_gini_index": {
      "text": "47.5 (2001); 38.1 (1999)"
    },
    "budget": {
      "revenues": "$1.758 billion",
      "expenditures": "$1.929 billion (2012 est.)"
    },
    "taxes_and_other_revenues": {
      "text": "17.4% of GDP (2012 est.)"
    },
    "budget_surplus_+_or_deficit": {
      "text": "-1.7% of GDP (2012 est.)"
    },
    "fiscal_year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "inflation_rate_consumer_prices": {
      "text": "6.4% (2012 est.); 9.5% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "central_bank_discount_rate": {
      "text": "5% (31 December 2010 est.); NA% (31 December 2009 est.)"
    },
    "commercial_bank_prime_lending_rate": {
      "text": "56.25% (31 December 2012 est.); 52.5% (31 December 2011 est.)"
    },
    "stock_of_narrow_money": {
      "text": "$1.492 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $1.445 billion (31 December 2011 est.)"
    },
    "stock_of_broad_money": {
      "text": "$2.926 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $2.223 billion (31 December 2011 est.)"
    },
    "stock_of_domestic_credit": {
      "text": "$1.245 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $1.054 billion (31 December 2011 est.)"
    },
    "market_value_of_publicly_traded_shares": {
      "text": "$NA"
    },
    "current_account_balance": {
      "text": "-$2.322 billion (2012 est.); -$2.526 billion (2011 est.)"
    },
    "exports": {
      "text": "$640.7 million (2012 est.); $588.3 million (2011 est.)"
    },
    "exports_commodities": {
      "text": "coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, clothing, chromite, petroleum products"
    },
    "exports_partners": {
      "text": "France 23.1%, China 6.5%, US 6.5%, Singapore 5.8%, Canada 5.4%, India 5.3%, Germany 5.3%, Indonesia 5.2%, South Africa 4.4% (2012)"
    },
    "imports": {
      "text": "$2.755 billion (2012 est.); $2.697 billion (2011 est.)"
    },
    "imports_commodities": {
      "text": "capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food"
    },
    "imports_partners": {
      "text": "China 17.2%, France 12.1%, South Africa 5.3%, Bahrain 5.1%, India 5%, Mauritius 4.7%, Kuwait 4.4% (2012)"
    },
    "reserves_of_foreign_exchange_and_gold": {
      "text": "$1.191 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $1.279 billion (31 December 2011 est.)"
    },
    "debt_external": {
      "text": "$3.127 billion (31 December 2012 est.); $2.769 billion (31 December 2011 est.)"
    },
    "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_at_home": {
      "text": "$NA"
    },
    "stock_of_direct_foreign_investment_abroad": {
      "text": "$NA"
    },
    "exchange_rates": {
      "text": "Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -; 2,195 (2012 est.); 2,025.1 (2011 est.); 2,090 (2010 est.); 1,956.2 (2009); 1,654.78 (2008)"
    }
  },
  "energy": {
    "electricity_production": {
      "text": "1.35 billion kWh (2009 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_consumption": {
      "text": "1.256 billion kWh (2009 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_exports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_imports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2010 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_installed_generating_capacity": {
      "text": "406,000 kW (2009 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_from_fossil_fuels": {
      "text": "69.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_from_nuclear_fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_from_hydroelectric_plants": {
      "text": "30.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)"
    },
    "electricity_from_other_renewable_sources": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)"
    },
    "crude_oil_production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2011 est.)"
    },
    "crude_oil_exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)"
    },
    "crude_oil_imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2009 est.)"
    },
    "crude_oil_proved_reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)"
    },
    "refined_petroleum_products_production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2008 est.)"
    },
    "refined_petroleum_products_consumption": {
      "text": "17,480 bbl/day (2011 est.)"
    },
    "refined_petroleum_products_exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2008 est.)"
    },
    "refined_petroleum_products_imports": {
      "text": "14,250 bbl/day (2008 est.)"
    },
    "natural_gas_production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)"
    },
    "natural_gas_consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)"
    },
    "natural_gas_exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)"
    },
    "natural_gas_imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2010 est.)"
    },
    "natural_gas_proved_reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)"
    },
    "carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_consumption_of_energy": {
      "text": "3.384 million Mt (2010 est.)"
    }
  },
  "comm": {
    "telephones_main_lines_in_use": {
      "text": "138,100 (2011)"
    },
    "telephones_mobile_cellular": {
      "text": "8.665 million (2011)"
    },
    "telephone_system": {
      "general_assessment": "system is above average for the region; Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the late 1990s, but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is poorly developed",
      "domestic": "combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 40 per 100 persons",
      "international": "country code - 261; landing point for the EASSy, SEACOM, and LION fiber-optic submarine cable systems; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2010)"
    },
    "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 (2007)"
    },
    "internet_country_code": {
      "text": ".mg"
    },
    "internet_hosts": {
      "text": "38,392 (2012)"
    },
    "internet_users": {
      "text": "319,900 (2009)"
    }
  },
  "trans": {
    "airports": {
      "text": "83 (2013)"
    },
    "airports_with_paved_runways": {
      "total": "26",
      "over_3_047_m": "1",
      "2_438_to_3_047_m": "2",
      "1_524_to_2_437_m": "6",
      "914_to_1_523_m": "16",
      "under_914_m": "1 (2013)"
    },
    "airports_with_unpaved_runways": {
      "total": "57",
      "1_524_to_2_437_m": "1",
      "914_to_1_523_m": "38",
      "under_914_m": "18 (2013)"
    },
    "railways": {
      "total": "854 km",
      "narrow_gauge": "854 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)"
    },
    "roadways": {
      "total": "65,663 km",
      "paved": "7,617 km",
      "unpaved": "58,046 km (2003)"
    },
    "waterways": {
      "text": "600 km (432 km navigable) (2011)"
    },
    "merchant_marine": {
      "total": "1",
      "by_type": "cargo 1",
      "registered_in_other_countries": "1 (unknown 1) (2010)"
    },
    "ports_and_terminals": {
      "text": "Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear)"
    }
  },
  "military": {
    "military_branches": {
      "text": "People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie"
    },
    "military_service_age_and_obligation": {
      "text": "18-25 years of age for male-only voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation is 18 months for military or equivalent civil service; 20-30 years of age for National Gendarmerie recruits and 35 years of age for those with military experience (2012)"
    },
    "manpower_available_for_military_service": {
      "males_age_16_49": "4,900,729",
      "females_age_16_49": "4,909,061 (2010 est.)"
    },
    "manpower_fit_for_military_service": {
      "males_age_16_49": "3,390,071",
      "females_age_16_49": "3,682,180 (2010 est.)"
    },
    "manpower_reaching_militarily_significant_age_annually": {
      "male": "248,184",
      "female": "246,769 (2010 est.)"
    },
    "military_expenditures": {
      "text": "5.1% of GDP (2011)"
    }
  },
  "issues": {
    "disputes_international": {
      "text": "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)"
    },
    "trafficking_in_persons": {
      "current_situation": "Madagascar is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; poor Malagasy women hired as domestic workers in Lebanon and Kuwait are vulnerable to abuse by recruitment agencies and employers; an increasing number of Malagasy men were victimized by labor trafficking abroad in 2012; Malagasy children are subjected to domestic servitude, prostitution, forced begging, and forced labor within the country, often with the complicity of family members; coastal cities have child sex tourism trades, with Malagasy men being the main clients",
      "tier_rating": "Tier 2 Watch List - Madagascar does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; law enforcement authorities have made a significant increase in efforts in 2012, resulting in 30 trafficking-related prosecutions and two convictions; public officials complicity in human trafficking, however, remains a significant problem; the government has failed to identify and refer victims to protective services and has not supported NGO-run care facilities; the government also has not engaged any Middle Eastern governments regarding the protection of and legal remedies for Malagasy workers exploited abroad (2013)"
    },
    "illicit_drugs": {
      "text": "illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin"
    }
  }
}