Madagascar

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.

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total : 587,041 sq km

land: 581,540 sq km

water: 5,501 sq km

comparison ranking: total 49

Area – comparative

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

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

4,828 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Climate

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation

highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 615 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 70.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 5.2% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 64.1% (2022 est.)

forest: 21.3% (2022 est.)

other: 8.4% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

10,860 sq km (2012)

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

Natural hazards

periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation

volcanism: Madagascar’s volcanoes have not erupted in historical times

Geography – note

world’s fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar’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

People and Society

Population

total: 29,452,714 (2024 est.)

male: 14,760,501

female: 14,692,213

comparison rankings: total 53; female 53; male 53

Nationality

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)

adjective: Malagasy

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

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.)

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)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 69.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 62.7 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 6.6 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 15.1 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 21.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 21.1 years

female: 21.5 years

comparison ranking: total 193

Population growth rate

2.18% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 33

Birth rate

27.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 34

Death rate

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 163

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 85

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

Urbanization

urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

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

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

19.5 years (2021 est.)

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

Maternal mortality ratio

392 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: 24

Infant mortality rate

total: 37.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 34 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 31

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 67.3 years

female: 70.3 years

comparison ranking: total population 186

Total fertility rate

3.47 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 35

Gross reproduction rate

1.71 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.7% (2020)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 85% of population

rural: 38% of population

total: 56.1% of population

unimproved:

urban: 15% of population

rural: 62% of population

total: 43.9% of population (2020 est.)

Health expenditure

3.5% of GDP (2021)

5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 49.2% of population

rural: 22.1% of population

total: 32.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 50.8% of population

rural: 77.9% of population

total: 67.4% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

comparison ranking: 181

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 155

Tobacco use

total: 24.1% (2025 est.)

male: 40.2% (2025 est.)

female: 8.2% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 43

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

22.6% (2021)

comparison ranking: 8

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

60.1% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 12.7% (2021)

women married by age 18: 38.8% (2021)

men married by age 18: 11.2% (2021)

Education expenditure

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

18% national budget (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 154

Literacy

total population: 74.7% (2021 est.)

male: 77.9% (2021 est.)

female: 71.8% (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 10 years (2018)

Environment

Environment – current issues

erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation

Environment – international 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

Climate

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023)

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

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 16.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 3.91 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 10.14 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3,768,759 tons (2016 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 400 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 160 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 13 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

337 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form: Madagascar

local long form: République de Madagascar/Repoblikan’i Madagasikara

local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara

former: Malagasy Republic

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

Government type

semi-presidential republic

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Legal system

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

Constitution

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

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’s collectivities, cannot be amended

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 16 December 2023)

head of government: Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

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

most recent election date: 16 November 2023

election results:
2023: 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%

2018: Andry RAJOELINA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round – Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 39.2%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 35.4%, other 25.4%; percent of vote in second round – Andry RAJOELINA 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3%

expected date of next election: November 2028

Legislative branch

legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch – lower chamber

chamber name: National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)

number of seats: 163 (all directly elected)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 5/29/2024

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%

expected date of next election: May 2029

Legislative branch – upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Antenimierandoholona)

number of seats: 18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 12/11/2020

parties elected and seats per party: IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2)

percentage of women in chamber: 11.1%

expected date of next election: December 2025

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (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 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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)

chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525

FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)

embassy: Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo – Madagascar

mailing address: 2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040

telephone: [261] 33-44-320-00

FAX: [261] 33-44-320-35

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://mg.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity

National symbol(s)

traveller’s palm (ravenala), zebu

National color(s)

red, green, white

National anthem

name: “Ry Tanindraza nay malala o” (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)

lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA

note: adopted 1959

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests (n)

Economy

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$51.265 billion (2023 est.)
$49.388 billion (2022 est.)
$47.488 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 123

Real GDP growth rate

3.8% (2023 est.)
4% (2022 est.)
5.74% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 84

Real GDP per capita

$1,600 (2023 est.)
$1,600 (2022 est.)
$1,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 217

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.79 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.9% (2023 est.)
8.2% (2022 est.)
5.8% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 187

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 22.6% (2023 est.)

industry: 22.4% (2023 est.)

services: 44.7% (2023 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 177; industry 122; agriculture 29

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 63.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 22.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 26.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -33.9% (2023 est.)

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.91% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 103

Labor force

16.519 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 39

Unemployment rate

3% (2024 est.)
3.1% (2023 est.)
3.2% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 48

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 5.4% (2024 est.)

male: 5.3% (2024 est.)

female: 5.4% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 167

Remittances

2.44% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.55% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.02% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $1.756 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $1.523 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

36% of GDP (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 149

Taxes and other revenues

9.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 180

Current account balance

-$829.376 million (2022 est.)
-$721.953 million (2021 est.)
-$623.653 million (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 134

Exports

$4.689 billion (2022 est.)
$3.362 billion (2021 est.)
$2.589 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 141

Exports – partners

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$6.041 billion (2022 est.)
$4.769 billion (2021 est.)
$3.718 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 145

Imports – partners

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.785 billion (2024 est.)
$2.632 billion (2023 est.)
$2.16 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 123

Debt – external

$3.548 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 83

Exchange rates

Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
4,525.425 (2024 est.)
4,429.579 (2023 est.)
4,096.116 (2022 est.)
3,829.978 (2021 est.)
3,787.754 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 36.1% (2022 est.)

electrification – urban areas: 71.6%

electrification – rural areas: 10.9%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 759,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 139 million kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 52; consumption 148; installed generating capacity 142

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 150 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 141

Energy consumption per capita

1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 187

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 3,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 209

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 25.4 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 55

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.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 34,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

comparison ranking: total 156

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

93 (2025)

comparison ranking: 58

Railways

total: 836 km (2018)

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

Merchant marine

total: 29 (2023)

by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11

comparison ranking: total 135

Ports

total ports: 13 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 2

very small: 11

ports with oil terminals: 5

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

Military and Security

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)

note: 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

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

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 weapons and equipment originating from countries such as France, South Africa, the UAE, the UK, and the former Soviet Union (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for men and women; service obligation 18 months; no conscription; women are permitted to serve in all branches (2023)

Military – note

the military’s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar’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 having influence in domestic politics and a lack of accountability; members of the Army and the Gendarmerie were arrested for coup plotting as recently as 2021; its closest defense partners have been India and Russia, although France has provided some training and China has sought to strengthen security ties; Madagascar’s small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2024)

Transnational Issues

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Madagascar was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/madagascar/