Madagascar
Madagascar⌘K
Overview
- 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.
Geography
Area
- Land
- 581,540 sq km
- Water
- 5,501 sq km
- Total
- 587,041 sq km
- Climate
- tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
- Terrain
- narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Land Use
- Other
- 12.2% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 17.5% (2023 est.)
- 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.)
- Location
- Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
- Coastline
- 4,828 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Indian Ocean 0 m
- Highest point
- Maromokotro 2,876 m
- Mean elevation
- 615 m
- Irrigated land
- 10,860 sq km (2012)
- Map references
- Africa
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 0 km
Maritime Claims
- Contiguous zone
- 24 nm
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
- Continental shelf
- 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
- Exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- 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
- Natural resources
- graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
- Area comparative
- almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
- Geographic coordinates
- 20 00 S, 47 00 E
- 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 & Society
Literacy
- Male
- 77.9% (2021 est.)
- Female
- 71.8% (2021 est.)
- Total population
- 74.7% (2021 est.)
- 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.)
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
- Total population
- 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.86 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 27.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 21.1 years
- Total
- 20.5 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 21.5 years
Population
- Male
- 15,647,362
- Total
- 31,345,040 (2025 est.)
- Female
- 15,697,678
Nationality
- Noun
- Malagasy (singular and plural)
- Adjective
- Malagasy
Tobacco Use
- Male
- 40.2% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 24.1% (2025 est.)
- Female
- 8.2% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 40.6% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
- Ethnic groups
- Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Child Marriage
- Men married BY age 18
- 11.2% (2021)
- Women married BY age 15
- 12.7% (2021)
- Women married BY age 18
- 38.8% (2021)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 73.4 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 66.9 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 15.3 (2025 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 6.5 (2025 est.)
- Physician density
- 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
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.)
- Net migration rate
- -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 3.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking Water Source
- Improved: rural
- rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)
Education Expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 18% national budget (2019 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 34 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 2.15% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 1.71 (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
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 67.3 years
- Female
- 70.3 years
- Total population
- 68.8 years (2024 est.)
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 445 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved: rural
- rural: 25.2% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 36.7% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 53.9% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 74.8% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 63.3% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 46.1% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita
- Beer
- 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Spirits
- 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Other alcohols
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Major urban areas population
- 3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)
- Obesity adult prevalence rate
- 5.3% (2016)
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 19.5 years (2021 est.)
- Currently married women (ages 15 49)
- 62.3% (2021 est.)
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 22.6% (2021 est.)
School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)
- Male
- 9 years (2019 est.)
- Total
- 9 years (2019 est.)
- Female
- 9 years (2019 est.)
Government
Civica · structure
How power is organised
ExecutiveLegislative
- 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
Capital
- Name
- Antananarivo
- 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
- Time difference
- UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Geographic coordinates
- 18 55 S, 47 31 E
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
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
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
Country Name
- 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
- Local long form
- République de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
- Local short form
- Madagascar/Madagasikara
- Conventional long form
- Republic of Madagascar
- Conventional short form
- Madagascar
- Independence
- 26 June 1960 (from France)
- Legal system
- civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
- Government type
- semi-presidential republic
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)
- Subordinate courts
- Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court
- 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
Executive Branch
- Note
- note: on 14 October 2025 Col. Michael Randrianirina, commander of an elite unit of the country’s armed forces, announced the formation of a transitional government made up of civilians, which would rule for two years; the constitution, the country’s top court, and the electoral commission were suspended, and a referendum will be held to formulate a new constitution; the lower house of Parliament was not suspended and impeached former-President Andry RAJOELINA
- Cabinet
- Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
- Chief of state
- Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.)
- 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%- Head of government
- Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025)
- Most recent election date
- 16 November 2023
- 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
- Expected date of next election
- November 2028
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
- National color(s)
- red, green, white
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)
- 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
Legislative Branch
- Legislative structure
- bicameral
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (O Our Beloved Fatherland)
- History
- adopted 1959
- Lyrics/music
- Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
- National symbol(s)
- traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu
- Administrative divisions
- 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Legislative Branch Lower Chamber
- Chamber name
- National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)
- Term in office
- 5 years
- Number of seats
- 163 (all directly elected)
- Electoral system
- mixed system
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Most recent election date
- 12/11/2020
- Expected date of next election
- May 2029
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 14.1%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR) (84); Firaisankina (22); Independents (50); Other (7)
Legislative Branch Upper Chamber
- Chamber name
- Senate (Antenimierandoholona)
- Term in office
- 5 years
- Number of seats
- 18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)
- Most recent election date
- 5/29/2024
- Expected date of next election
- 31 December 2026
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 11.1%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2)
Diplomatic Representation in the US
- Fax
- [1] (202) 265-3034
- Chancery
- 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 265-5525
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)
- Email address and website
madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com
https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Fax
- [261] 33-44-320-35
- Embassy
- Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar
- Telephone
- [261] 33-44-320-00
- Mailing address
- 2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)
- Email address and website
antanACS@state.gov
https://mg.usembassy.gov/
- International organisations
- 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
- International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Legislature
MADAGASCAR · LOWER HOUSE
National Assembly
163 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
163
Majority line
83
Largest party
Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR)
Parties
7
All political parties
Upper house
MADAGASCAR · UPPER HOUSE
Senate
18 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
18
Majority line
10
Largest party
Tiako I Madagasikara
Parties
1
All political parties
Leaders
Current
Andry Rajoelina
- Head of State
Ruphin Zafisambo
- Head of Government
Economy
Budget
- Note
- note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- Revenues
- $2.066 billion (2023 est.)
- Expenditures
- $2.876 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $4.1B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- Exports 2020
- $2.589 billion (2020 est.)
- Exports 2021
- $3.362 billion (2021 est.)
- Exports 2022
- $4.689 billion (2022 est.)
Imports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $5.5B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- Imports 2020
- $3.718 billion (2020 est.)
- Imports 2021
- $4.769 billion (2021 est.)
- Imports 2022
- $6.041 billion (2022 est.)
- Industries
- meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining
- Labor force
- 16.519 million (2024 est.)
Public Debt
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
- Public debt 2016
- 38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
- Note
- note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2020
- 3,787.754 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 3,829.978 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 4,096.116 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 4,429.579 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 4,525.425 (2024 est.)
Debt External
- Note
- note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- Debt external 2023
- $3.548 billion (2023 est.)
- 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
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 3.0%
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 3.2% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 3.1% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 3.1% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- USA 16%, France 15%, Japan 8%, China 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023)
- Imports partners
- China 19%, Oman 13%, France 10%, India 8%, South Africa 5% (2023)
Real GDP Per Capita
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $1,884
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $1,600 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $1,600 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $1,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 4.2%
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 4.2% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 4.2% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 4.2% (2024 est.)
- Agricultural products
- rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023)
- Exports commodities
- garments, nickel, vanilla, cloves, gold (2023)
- Imports commodities
- refined petroleum, rice, fabric, cotton fabric, wheat (2023)
Current Account Balance
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- -$749.0M
- Note
- note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- Current account balance 2020
- -$623.653 million (2020 est.)
- Current account balance 2021
- -$721.953 million (2021 est.)
- Current account balance 2022
- -$829.376 million (2022 est.)
- Taxes and other revenues
- 9.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $17.421 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY End Use
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- Household consumption
- 69.8% (2024 est.)
- Government consumption
- 15.3% (2024 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 0% (2024 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 22.6% (2024 est.)
- Exports of goods and services
- 23.6% (2024 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -31.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 7.6%
- Note
- note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
- 5.8% (2021 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 8.2% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 9.9% (2023 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $52.968 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $48.782 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $50.833 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $52.968 billion (2024 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 5.3% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 5.4% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 5.4% (2024 est.)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
- Note
- note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
- $2.16 billion (2022 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
- $2.632 billion (2023 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
- $2.785 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 22.8% (2024 est.)
- Services
- 46.4% (2024 est.)
- Agriculture
- 22.5% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
- Imports
- 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Proven reserves
- 150 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Consumption
- 2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 759,000 kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 139 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity Access
- Electrification rural areas
- 10.9%
- Electrification urban areas
- 71.6%
- Electrification total population
- 36.1% (2022 est.)
Energy Consumption Per Capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Generation Sources
- Solar
- 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 64.8% 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.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 20% (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
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.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 34,000 (2023 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- (2023 est.) less than 1
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 2
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara
- Very small
- 11
- Total ports
- 13 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 5
- 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
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- 5R
Environment
- Climate
- tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Land Use
- Other
- 12.2% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 17.5% (2023 est.)
- 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.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 40.6% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 3.769 million tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 9.2% (2022 est.)
- Environmental issues
- erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation
Total Water Withdrawal
- Municipal
- 395 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 161.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Agricultural
- 13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Total emissions
- 3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From coal and metallurgical coke
- 1.057 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Particulate matter emissions
- 16.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Total renewable water resources
- 337 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
- Signed, but not ratified
- none of the selected agreements
Military & 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 Expenditures
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 0.7%
- Military expenditures 2020
- 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military expenditures 2021
- 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military expenditures 2022
- 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Military expenditures 2023
- 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Military expenditures 2024
- 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
- 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 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 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 service personnel strengths
- estimated 13,000 Armed Forces; estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- Idps
- 9,868 (2024 est.)
- Refugees
- 1,256 (2024 est.)
Scores & Rankings
ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index34.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4127 / 1902024-Q4
V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.22as of 2024-Q4108 / 1702024-Q4
Freedom House StatusNot Free (58/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Madagascar — vintage 2026-Q1: Madagascar factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/madagascar
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata