Madagascar

Republic of Madagascar

Africa Antananarivo

Population

31.35M

Area

587,041 km²

GDP

$17.42B

GDP Per Capita

$1,700

Pop. Density

53/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

ArMalagasy ariary(MGA)

Calling Code

+261

Timezone

UTC+03:00

Languages

French, Malagasy

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Malagasy

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑172.4% since 2006

$6B (2006)$17B (2024)

Population

↑62.0% since 2006

19.7M (2006)32.0M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 63.6 years

2006: 61.1 years2023: 63.6 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

Location

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total : 587,041 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,501 sq km

Area - comparative

almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

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

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation

highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 615 m

Natural resources

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land

70.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.)

forest

17.5% (2023 est.)

other

12.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

10,860 sq km (2012)

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

Natural hazards

periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation

volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history

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

People & Society35

Population

total: 31,345,040 (2025 est.)
male: 15,647,362
female: 15,697,678

Nationality

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy

Ethnic groups

Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Languages

Malagasy (official) 99.9%, French (official) 23.6%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)

Religions

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: 37% (male 5,507,847/female 5,400,551)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 8,720,012/female 8,673,880)
65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 532,642/female 617,782)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 73.4 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 66.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 15.3 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 20.5 years (2025 est.)
male: 21.1 years
female: 21.5 years

Population growth rate

2.15% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

27.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

Urbanization

urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.5 years (2021 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

445 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 34 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 67.3 years
female: 70.3 years

Total fertility rate

3.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.71 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 53.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 25.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 36.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 46.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 74.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 63.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 24.1% (2025 est.)
male: 40.2% (2025 est.)
female: 8.2% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

22.6% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62.3% (2021 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 12.7% (2021)
women married by age 18: 38.8% (2021)
men married by age 18: 11.2% (2021)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 18% national budget (2019 est.)

Literacy

total population: 74.7% (2021 est.)
male: 77.9% (2021 est.)
female: 71.8% (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years (2019 est.)
male: 9 years (2019 est.)
female: 9 years (2019 est.)

Government25

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form

Madagascar

local long form

République de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara

local short form

Madagascar/Madagasikara

former

Malagasy Republic

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 type

semi-presidential 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)
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

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Legal system

civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation

Constitution

history: previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010
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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
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
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.)

head of government

Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025)

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

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

most recent election date

16 November 2023

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%

expected date of next election

November 2028

Legislative branch

legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)

number of seats

163 (all directly elected)

electoral system

mixed system

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

12/11/2020

parties elected and seats per party

Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR) (84); Firaisankina (22); Independents (50); Other (7)

percentage of women in chamber

14.1%

expected date of next election

May 2029

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Antenimierandoholona)

number of seats

18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

5/29/2024

parties elected and seats per party

IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2)

percentage of women in chamber

11.1%

expected date of next election

31 December 2026

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)
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
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
email address and website:
madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com

https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)

embassy

Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar

mailing address

2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040

telephone

[261] 33-44-320-00

FAX

[261] 33-44-320-35

email address and website

antanACS@state.gov

https://mg.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

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

National symbol(s)

traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu

National color(s)

red, green, white

National anthem(s)

title: "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (O Our Beloved Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
history: adopted 1959

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests (n)

Economy28

Economic overview

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) 2024: $52.968 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $50.833 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $48.782 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.421 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 5.8% (2021 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 22.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 22.8% (2024 est.)
services: 46.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

69.8% (2024 est.)

government consumption

15.3% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.6% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

23.6% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-31.3% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023)

Industries

meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (2024 est.)

Labor force

16.519 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 5.4% (2024 est.)
male: 5.3% (2024 est.)
female: 5.4% (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $2.066 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $2.876 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022: -$829.376 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$721.953 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020: -$623.653 million (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022: $4.689 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $3.362 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2020: $2.589 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 16%, France 15%, Japan 8%, China 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities

garments, nickel, vanilla, cloves, gold (2023)

Imports

Imports 2022: $6.041 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $4.769 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020: $3.718 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

China 19%, Oman 13%, France 10%, India 8%, South Africa 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, rice, fabric, cotton fabric, wheat (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.785 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.632 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.16 billion (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $3.548 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

4,525.425 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

4,429.579 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

4,096.116 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3,829.978 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

3,787.754 (2020 est.)

Energy6

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 36.1% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 71.6%
electrification - rural areas: 10.9%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 759,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 139 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 150 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 3,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 23.5 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2023 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.mg

Internet users

percent of population: 20% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 34,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

Transportation5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

93 (2025)

Railways

total: 836 km (2018)
narrow gauge: 836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine

total: 29 (2023)
by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11

Ports

total ports

13 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara

Military & Security6

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 expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 13,000 Armed Forces; estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2025)

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 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)

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)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 1,256 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 9,868 (2024 est.)

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