2025 Edition Primary

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. <br><br>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.

Area

Land

581,540 sq km

Total

587,041 sq km

Water

5,501 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Coastline

4,828 km

Continent

Africa

Elevation

Highest point

Maromokotro 2,876 m

Lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

615 m

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Geography - note

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar&rsquo;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

Irrigated land

10,860 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

Total

0 km

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.)

arable land

5.16%

Forest

17.5% (2023 est.)

Other

12.2% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

1.03%

Landlocked

No

Location

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

Map links

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/AHQh2ABBaFW6Ngj26

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/447325

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history

Natural resources

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

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

Subregion

Eastern Africa

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Time zone

UTC+03:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Beer

0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

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

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)

Children under 5 years underweight

39.8%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

22.6% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62.3% (2021 est.)

Death rate

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

adult female

207 per 1,000

adult male

259 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

Elderly dependency ratio

6.5 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

15.3 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

73.4 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

66.9 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved total

22.06%

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.)

Education expenditures

3 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.71 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

3 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.5% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.9%

Infant mortality rate

Female

34 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

40.9 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

24 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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

languages

French, Malagasy

note

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

number of languages

2

Life expectancy at birth

Female

70.3 years

Male

67.3 years

Total population

68.8 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

Female

71.8% (2021 est.)

Male

77.9% (2021 est.)

Total population

74.7% (2021 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

Female

21.5 years

Male

21.1 years

Total

20.5 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.5 years (2021 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

Adjective

Malagasy

Noun

Malagasy (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

Female

15,697,678

Male

15,647,362

Total

31,345,040 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

2.15% (2025 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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved total

12.8%

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female

9 years (2019 est.)

Male

9 years (2019 est.)

Total

9 years (2019 est.)

Sex ratio

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

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

Female

8.2% (2025 est.)

Male

40.2% (2025 est.)

Total

24.1% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

40.6% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles

46%

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (<em>faritany</em>); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Capital

Etymology

the name means "City of the Thousand," from the Malagasy <em>an</em>- (a prefix denoting a place name), <em>tanana </em>(town), and <em>arivo </em>(thousand); in the 17th century, King ADRIANJAKA named the original fortress after the 1,000 soldiers stationed there

Geographic coordinates

18 55 S, 47 31 E

Name

Antananarivo

Time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Coat of arms

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/mg.svg

Constitution

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&rsquo;s collectivities, cannot be amended

History

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

Country name

alternative spellings

MG, Republic of Madagascar, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, République de Madagascar

Conventional long form

Republic of Madagascar

Conventional short form

Madagascar

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

FIFA code

MAD

Former

Malagasy Republic

Local long form

R&eacute;publique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara

local long form (fra)

République de Madagascar

Local short form

Madagascar/Madagasikara

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission

Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)

Email address and website

<br>antanACS@state.gov<br><br>https://mg.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

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

FAX

[261] 33-44-320-35

Mailing address

2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040

Telephone

[261] 33-44-320-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chancery

2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)

Email address and website

<br>madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com<br><br>https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 265-3034

Telephone

[1] (202) 265-5525

Executive branch

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

Chief of state

Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.)

Election results

<em><br>2023</em>: 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%

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

Head of government

Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025)

Most recent election date

16 November 2023

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

Flag

<strong>description:</strong> two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a vertical white band on the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity

Flag description

The flag of Madagascar features a white vertical band on the hoist side that takes up about one-third the width of the field, and two equal horizontal bands of red and green adjoining the vertical band.

Flag image

svg

https://flagcdn.com/mg.svg

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (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&nbsp; 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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

Chamber name

National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)

Electoral system

mixed system

Expected date of next election

May 2029

Most recent election date

12/11/2020

Number of seats

163 (all directly elected)

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%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

Chamber name

Senate (Antenimierandoholona)

Expected date of next election

31 December 2026

Most recent election date

5/29/2024

Number of seats

18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)

Parties elected and seats per party

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

Percentage of women in chamber

11.1%

Term in office

5 years

National color(s)

red, green, white

National heritage

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests&nbsp; (n)

Total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

National symbol(s)

traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu

Political parties

Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP<br>I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM<br>Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD<br>Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS<br>Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY<br>Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM<br>Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao<br>Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

UN Member

Yes

Agricultural products

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

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

Expenditures

$2.876 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Currency

code

MGA

name

Malagasy ariary (MGA) [Ar]

Current account balance

$-829,376,078

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$6.65 billion

Debt - external 2023

$3.548 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

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.)

Exports

$4.05 billion

Exports 2020

$2.589 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$3.362 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$4.689 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows

$606.21 million

GDP - composition, by end use

Exports of goods and services

23.6% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

15.3% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

69.8% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-31.3% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

22.6% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture

22.5% (2024 est.)

Industry

22.8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

46.4% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.421 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$545

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

42.6 (2012)

GNI (gross national income)

$16.97 billion

GNI per capita

$510

Gross domestic investment

22 % of GDP

Imports

$5.53 billion

Imports 2020

$3.718 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$4.769 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$6.041 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.87%

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

16.519 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

17.09 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

69.21%

industry

9.9%

services

20.89%

Population below poverty line

75.2%

Public debt

Public debt 2016

38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$60.21 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Real GDP growth rate

4.2%

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Real GDP per capita

$1,884

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Remittances

$406.26 million

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.78 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> 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.)

Revenue (excl grants)

11 % of GDP

Tax revenue

10 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

9.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

3.04%

Note

<b>note:</b> % 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.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female

5.4% (2024 est.)

Male

5.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

5.4% (2024 est.)

Coal

Consumption

472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

150 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption

2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

81 kWh

Installed generating capacity

759,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

139 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

Electrification - rural areas

10.9%

Electrification - total population

36.1% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

71.6%

Electricity generation sources

Biomass and waste

0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

31.46%

Hydroelectricity

31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

34.03%

Solar

3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

309 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption

20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

83.1%

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants

0 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Total

34,000 (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.)

Postal code format

###

Telephone calling code

+261

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

3,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100

75 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

76 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

23.5 million (2023 est.)

Air transport

passengers carried

313,313 passengers

registered carrier departures

5,367 departures

Airports

93 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5R

Driving side

Right

Merchant marine

By type

general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11

Total

29 (2023)

Ports

Key ports

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

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

5

Small

2

Total ports

13 (2024)

Very small

11

Railways

Narrow gauge

836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge

Total

836 km (2018)

Vehicle registration code

RM

Land forces

armored vehicles

tanks

Military - note

the military&rsquo;s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar&rsquo;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 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)

active duty personnel

22,000

note

<strong>note: </strong>the National Gendarmerie is under the Ministry of Defense but separate from the PAF and is responsible for maintaining law and order in rural areas at the village level, protecting government facilities, and operating a maritime police contingent; the National Police under the Ministry of Security is responsible for maintaining law and order in urban areas

percent of total labor force

0.15 %

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 expenditures

1 % of GDP

current USD

$121,634,247

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.)

percent of central government expenditure

4.24 %

percent of GDP

0.71 % of GDP

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 strength ranking

PowerIndex score

3.0381

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

9,868 (2024 est.)

Refugees

1,256 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

Total emissions

3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 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&nbsp;

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

Particulate matter emissions

16.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

5 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

4 % of total

Total renewable water resources

337 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

4 % of internal resources

Agricultural

13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

161.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

395 million cubic meters (2022 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.)