Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world with an annual GNP not exceeding $ 250 per capita. The minimum monthly wage in the private sector there is less than 35 euros.
• GDP: 4.364 million USD (2004)
• Purchasing Power Parity: 14.746 million USD (2004)
• GDP per capita : 851 USD (2004)
• Agriculture, forestry, fishing : 28.9% of GDP (2004)
Madagascar is an agricultural country, but cultivated areas occupy less than 5% of the total area. The soils become less fertile and the degradation of the vegetation cover has accelerated the phenomena of erosion and leaching. Consequently, 200,000 hectares of forests disappear every year. Traditional cultivation methods continue to be used and only allow for low yields.
The primary sector ranks first in the national economy and employs 70% of the labour force. It is responsible for 80% of export earnings.
The prosperous regions are alluvial depressions of the Imerima and Betsileo.
Export crops: coffee, vanilla (top producer), sugar cane, cloves, cocoa, cotton, sisal, coconut.
The industrialization of the country is hampered by the lack of energy resources and inadequate communication means. Industrial activity, mainly limited to processing agricultural products is located in the cities of Antananarivo, Mahajanga and Toamasina (main port of trade).
Industry : food processing, textiles, glass, cement, auto assembly plants, oil refineries, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals.
Natural Resources : Graphite, chrome, salt, mica, quartz, oil, precious stones, coal, bauxite, titanium ore.
The Malagasy population counts approximately 18 million inhabitants (2005) and increase by 3.03% per year. 75% of the Malagasy live in rural areas. The population density is relatively low (30 per km2 in 2005) but concentrated on the high plains resulting in considerable human pressure on natural resources in this area.
45% of the population is under 15 and only 3% over 65 years of age. In 2005, the fertility rate was 5.7 children per woman and the infant mortality rate 77 per thousand. The average life expectancy is 55 years for men and 59 for women. The crude birth rate (41 per thousand) and mortality (11 ‰) are still high but declining. School enrolment has dropped 50% in 15 years.
Religion plays a very important role in Malagasy society, almost all of the inhabitants practice their religion, equally divided between Catholics and Protestants. The population remains very faithful to the traditional religion according to which Zanahary is the creator and ancestors are subject of devotion.
Madagascar sociability requires clear rules, especially in conversation, and it is always good to quote some Malagasy proverb of wisdom.
The Malagasy people are divided into 18 main communities, with much mixing, depending on their origins or divisions of the ancient kingdoms:
Merina : "Those of the heights"; they fairly strong Asian influences (Indonesian)and reside at the centre of the island.
Betsileo : "Those who are invincible"; they live in the region of Fianarantsoa (east central).
Betsimisaraka : "Those who do not separate"; the largest tribe living along the east coast.
Sakalava : "Those of the long valleys", they occupy a vast territory on the west coast, from the north to Toliara (west).
Antaisaka : "People coming from Sakalava".
Antandroy : "Those of thorns"; they live on the southern tip of the island.
Mahafaly : "Those who make taboos" neighbours of the Antodroys
Vezo : these are fishermen from East Africa who have settled in the south of the island.
Bara : They are of Bantu origin and come from Africa.
Antakarana : "Those of ankara: the cliff"; north of the country
Antemoro : "Those on the coast".
Antaifasy : "Those who live in the sand" on the East Coast..
Masikoro : in the south of the island.
Antambahoaka : a group from the South-East of Arab descent, they say they are descendants of Raminia, a character who left Mecca in the tenth or eleventh century.
Tsimihety : "Those who do not cut their hair"; they live in the Northwest.
Tanala : "Those who live in the forest", live on the cliffs of the east coast, in the forest and they have extensive knowledge of medicinal plants.
Bezanozano : "Those with many small braids", on the East Coast.
Sihanaka : "Those who wander in the marshes"; they live in the Lake Alaotra, in the north-east.
Their language is just about the same, with several close linguistic varieties.
