Madagascar Location:
Physical. Madagascar is an island located in the Indian Ocean off Southern Africa and east of Mozambique. It spans an area roughly twice the size of Arizona and is the world’s fourth-largest island. The climate is tropical along the coast, temperate inland, and arid in the south. The terrain consists of a narrow coastal plain with a long chain of mountains running along the eastern coast and into the center of the island. Natural resources include graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stone, mica, fish, and hydropower.
Madagascar Geography:
Geography
Area: 226,658 square miles
Capital: Antananarivo (pop 1,689,000)
Environmental concerns: soil erosion resulting from deforestation and over grazing; desertification; water contamination; endangered species
Geographical features: narrow coastal plain; high plateau and mountains in the center; the world’s fourth largest island
Climate: tropical along the coast; temperate inland; arid in the south
Madagascar People:
People. Nearly 16.5 million people live in Madagascar. Malagasy inhabitants recognize both French and Malagasy as their official languages. Ethnically, the country is comprised of a number of groups, including Malayo-Indonesian, Cotiers, French, Indian, Creole, and Comoran. The religious beliefs practiced are: indigenous/native (52%) Christian (41%) and Muslim (7%).
16,474,000 people; Malayo Indonesian; Cotiers; French; Indian; Creole; Comoran
Annual growth rate: 3.02%
Major languages are Malagasy and French
Religions: indigenous beliefs (52%); Christian (41%); Muslim (7%)
Madagascar Government:
Government. In December 2001 the presidential elections were between Ratsiraka, the incumbent president for the previous 27 years and Ravalomanana. Ravalomanana's declaration of victory initiated a fierce seven-month power struggle. Ignoring a high court decree naming Ravalomanana as the winner in April, 2002, Ratsiraka used the army to take over various parts of the country. Ravalomanana organized a crew of reserves and fought back. However, Ratsiraka’s allies put up economic barricades and an economic depression resulted. In July 2002, after the United States and France recognized Ravalomanana as the legitimate leader, Ratsiraka flew into exile in the Seychelles and his forces either surrendered or switched sides. The African Union has refused to accept Ravalomanana’s presidency and demanded new elections, but France, Great Britain and the United States have recognized the government.
Madagascar is a republic and gained its independence from France on June 26, 1960
President Marc Ravalomanana is head of state
3 major political parties
Universal suffrage at 18
Madagascar Communication:
Communication and transportation
55,000 main telephone lines
30,000 Internet users (2000)
29,900 miles of highway
530 miles of railroad
130 airfields
76,000 motor vehicles
Madagascar Economy:
Economy. Ravalomanana has promised to fight the poverty and unemployment that afflict the people. The current economy is suffering not only from months of disruption and political violence but Madagascar has experienced economic difficulties since 1980, which have fueled political instability. Rioting in towns due to food shortages have been compounded by the frustrated farmers who have abandoned their fields. For the seven-month period in which the people had two presidents in 2002, widespread demonstrations and worker strikes paralyzed trade, commerce and industry. Gasoline and medical supplies were in short supply as foreign reserves in US banks were frozen. The economy is still recovering.
Currency: francs
Per capita GDP: $870
GDP: $ 14 billion
GDP growth rate: 5%
Inflation rate: 7%
Labor force: 80% agriculture .
Madagascar More Information:
www.madagascarnews.com
www.sas.upenn.edu | 
