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NAVIGATION
Republic of Madagascar
Republique de Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002 the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique |
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Geographic coordinates:
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20 00 S, 47 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 587,040 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km land: 581,540 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Arizona |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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4,828 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath |
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Climate:
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tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south |
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m |
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Natural resources:
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graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 4.41%
permanent crops: 0.93% other: 94.66% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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10,900 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic cyclones |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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16,473,477 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 45% (male 3,713,700; female 3,696,478)
15-64 years: 51.8% (male 4,227,931; female 4,313,940) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 241,699; female 279,729) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.03% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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42.41 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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12.15 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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81.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 55.74 years
female: 58.11 years (2002 est.) male: 53.45 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.77 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.15% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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11,000 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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870 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy |
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Ethnic groups:
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Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7% |
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Languages:
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French (official), Malagasy (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80% male: 88% female: 73% (1990 est.) |