Region: Southern Africa

Capital: Antananarivo

Population: 20,042,551 (July 2008 est.)

Surface area: 587,040 sq km

Currency: ariary (MGA)

GDP per capita: Purchasing power parity US $1,100 (2007 est.)

Background:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896 but regained 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. Ravalomanana is now in his second term following a landslide victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of 2006.
Economy – Overview:

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. President Ravalomanana has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.
Major Export Commodities: coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products

Remittances: Not available

Human Development Index 2007/2008 ranking: 143 out of 177

Official Development Assistance and Major Development Partners: Net ODA in 2006 was US $265.6 million. Major development partners include the IDA, the African Development Fund, the European Community, and Japan.

Total External Debt: US $4.6 billion (2002)

United Nations membership date: 20 September 1960

New York Mission:

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Madagascar to the United Nations

820 Second Avenue, Suite 800,

New York, N.Y. 10017

Telephone: 212-986-9491 / 9492 / 2827

Fax: 212-986-6271

Website: madagascar.un.int/

Sources:

CIA World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. www.cia.gov 

World Development Indicators. World Bank www.worldbank.org

Development, Recipient Aid Charts. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. www.oecd.org

Human Development Report 2007/2008.United Nations Development Programme. www.undp.org

Updated June 2008