Capital

Madagaskar

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, which means "City of the Thousand," was bestowed by 17th century King ADRIANJAKAKING to honor the soldiers assigned to guard the city

Citizenship

Madagaskar

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

Legal system

Madagaskar

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

Suffrage

Madagaskar

18 years of age; universal

Area

Madagaskar

total: 587,041 sq km

land: 581,540 sq km

water: 5,501 sq km

Land use

Madagaskar

agricultural land: 71.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 64.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 21.5% (2018 est.)

other: 7.4% (2018 est.)

Location

Madagaskar

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

Age structure

Madagaskar

0-14 years: 37.47% (male 5,451,018/female 5,343,865)

15-64 years: 58.72% (male 8,481,873/female 8,437,644)

65 years and over: 3.81% (2023 est.) (male 506,495/female 591,300)

Birth rate

Madagaskar

28.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Madagaskar

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Madagaskar

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

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Life expectancy at birth

Madagaskar

total population: 68.5 years (2023 est.)

male: 67.1 years

female: 69.9 years

Major urban areas - population

Madagaskar

3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)

Median age

Madagaskar

total: 21 years (2023 est.)

male: 20.9 years

female: 21.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Madagaskar

19.5 years (2021 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Net migration rate

Madagaskar

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Madagaskar

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

Population growth rate

Madagaskar

2.22% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Madagaskar

3.55 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Madagaskar

urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Madagaskar

3.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Madagaskar

total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 10 years (2018)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Madagaskar

-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Madagaskar

-21.56% (2020 est.)

Labor force

Madagaskar

14.813 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Madagaskar

70.7% (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

Madagaskar

2.59% (2021 est.)

2.47% (2020 est.)

1.86% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Madagaskar

36% of GDP (2017 est.)

38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Madagaskar

5.81% (2021 est.)

4.2% (2020 est.)

5.61% (2019 est.)

Exports

Madagaskar

$3.341 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.589 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$4.082 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

Madagaskar

United States 19%, France 18%, United Arab Emirates 7%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2019)

Imports

Madagaskar

$4.768 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$3.718 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$4.685 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Madagaskar

China 24%, France 11%, United Arab Emirates 9%, India 7%, South Africa 5% (2019)

Airports

Madagaskar

83 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Madagaskar

total: 32,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Madagaskar

total: 5.8 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 20% (2021 est.)

Railways

Madagaskar

total: 836 km (2018)

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

Roadways

Madagaskar

total: 31,640 km (2018)

Telephones - fixed lines

Madagaskar

total subscriptions: 26,271 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

Madagaskar

total subscriptions: 16,279,633 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Madagaskar

600 km (2011) (432 km navigable)

Disputes - international

Madagaskar

Madagascar-France: claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France); the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claim of France

Madagascar-Comoros: the vegetated drying cays of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also fall within the EEZ claim of the Comoros