Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
34,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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 (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.mg
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
18.68% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
3,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
76 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
23.5 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$2.876 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$2.066 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$808.2 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$81.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$255.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$44.8 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$30.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$98.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$301.2 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$623.653 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$721.953 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$829.376 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$453.9 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$749.0 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$5.935 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$3.548 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
4525.425 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
2206.914 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
2414.812 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
2933.508 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
3176.539 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
3116.110 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
3334.752 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
3618.322 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
3787.754 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
3829.978 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
4096.116 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
4429.579 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
4525.425 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
garments, nickel, vanilla, cloves, gold (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$2.625 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$3.542 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$3.215 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$3.447 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$4.072 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$4.339 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$4.009 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$2.589 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$3.362 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$4.689 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$4.285 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$4.052 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
23.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
15.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
69.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-31.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
22.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
22.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
22.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
46.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,884 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$17.421 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$60.207 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
36.8 (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, rice, fabric, cotton fabric, wheat (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$3.594 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$3.717 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$3.761 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$4.538 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$4.996 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$4.821 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$3.718 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$4.769 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$6.041 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$5.416 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$5.525 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
3.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
7.40% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
6.04% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
8.61% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
8.59% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
5.61% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
4.20% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5.81% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.16% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
9.87% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
7.61% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
16.519 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
75.20% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$37.118 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$38.054 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$40.756 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$41.438 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$45.498 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$43.150 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$46.836 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$48.782 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$50.833 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$52.968 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.13% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.99% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.93% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.19% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.41% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-7.14% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.65% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.16% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.20% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.20% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,499 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,497 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$1,562 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$1,547 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$1,612 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$1,490 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$1,577 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$1,717 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$1,808 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$357.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$344.4 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$326.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$495.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$406.3 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$832.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$1.184 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$1.600 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$1.740 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$1.693 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.981 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$2.335 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$2.16 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$2.632 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$2.785 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
9.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.48% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
3.29% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.50% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.19% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.04% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.05% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
5.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
5.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
5.4% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
150 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
10.9%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
36.1% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
71.6%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
759,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
139 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
1.057 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Environment: Environmental issues
erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
70.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
17.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
12.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
16.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
337 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
161.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
395 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
32.43% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
3.769 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
9.2% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Geography: Area: land
581,540 sq km
Geography: Area: water
5,501 sq km
Geography: Coastline
4,828 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Maromokotro 2,876 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
615 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 47 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar’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
Geography: Irrigated land
10,860 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
70.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
17.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
12.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history
Geography: Population distribution
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
Geography: Terrain
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Government: Administrative divisions
6 provinces ( faritany ); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Government: Capital: etymology
the name means "City of the Thousand," from the Malagasy an - (a prefix denoting a place name), tanana (town), and arivo (thousand); in the 17th century, King ADRIANJAKA named the original fortress after the 1,000 soldiers stationed there
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
18 55 S, 47 31 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
unknown
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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’s collectivities, cannot be amended
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Madagascar
Government: Country name: etymology
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: Country name: former
Malagasy Republic
Government: Country name: local long form
République de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
Government: Country name: local short form
Madagascar/Madagasikara
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
antanACS@state.gov https://mg.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[261] 33-44-320-35
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[261] 33-44-320-00
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 265-3034
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 265-5525
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2023 : 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
November 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
16 November 2023
Government: Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a vertical white band on the left side meaning: red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (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)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
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 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court
Government: Legal system
civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
May 2029
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
12/11/2020
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
163 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR) (84); Firaisankina (22); Independents (50); Other (7)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
14.1%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Antenimierandoholona)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
31 December 2026
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
5/29/2024
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
11.1%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1959
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
Government: National color(s)
red, green, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Government: National symbol(s)
traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu
Government: Political parties
Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
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. 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the military’s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar’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 influence in domestic politics and seized control of the government in October 2025; security relationships have included France, India, and Russia; Madagascar's small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Madagascar Armed Forces (aka Armed forces of the Republic of Madagascar); Malagasy Army, Naval Forces (or National Navy), Air Force; Malagasy National Gendarmerie (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 13,000 Armed Forces; estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand armaments originating from countries such as France, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, the UAE, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.52% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.50% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.51% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.53% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.55% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.67% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.68% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.65% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.65% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.71% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation 18 months; conscription available in times of national emergency or war (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
37% (male 5,507,847/female 5,400,551)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
59.1% (male 8,720,012/female 8,673,880)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.9% (2024 est.) (male 532,642/female 617,782)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
27.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
11.2% (2021)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
12.7% (2021)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
38.8% (2021)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
22.6% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.43% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
15.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
73.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
66.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
18% national budget (2019 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.05% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.71 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.5% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.50% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2014 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
34 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
40.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
43.0 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
65.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
62.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
71.8% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
77.9% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
74.69% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
445 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
21.5 years
People and Society: Median age: male
21.1 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.5 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Malagasy
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.3% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
31,964,956 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.44% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
15,697,678
People and Society: Population: male
15,647,362
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 25.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 36.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 53.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 74.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 63.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 46.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
9 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
9 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
9 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.86 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
8.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
40.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
24.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.91 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
32.43% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
9,868 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
1,256 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
93 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
5R
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
29 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
13 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
11
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
836 km (2018)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.