developments in Europe and dependent on regional integration and
progress toward EU membership for continued economic growth. At
independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of
the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal
output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended
transfer payments from the central government and eliminated
advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence
of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a
Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's
constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996.
GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. In 2001, during a
civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade,
intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security
needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth averaged 4% per year during
2003-06 and more than 5% per year during 2007-08. Macedonia has
maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it has so
far lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and creating
jobs, despite making extensive fiscal and business sector reforms.
Official unemployment remains high at nearly 35%, but may be
overstated based on the existence of an extensive gray market,
estimated to be more than 20% of GDP, that is not captured by
official statistics. In the wake of the global economic downturn,
Macedonia has experienced decreased foreign direct investment,
lowered credit, and a slowdown of export growth. The Government of
Macedonia now predicts growth in 2009 to be no more than 3%.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$18.83 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
$17.88 billion (2007 est.)
$16.88 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Macedonia has a large informal sector
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.569 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
5.9% (2007 est.)
3.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,100 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$8,700 (2007 est.)
$8,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 27.8%
services: 60.7% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
925,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19.6%
industry: 30.4%
services: 50% (September 2007)
Unemployment rate:
33.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
34.9% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
29.8% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 68
Investment (gross fixed):
20.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Budget:
revenues: $3.167 billion
expenditures: $3.239 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
20.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
20% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
2.3% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 64
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.68% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
10.23% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.307 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 81
$1.173 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$3.254 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
$3.127 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.906 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 84
$2.924 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
$2.715 billion (31 December 2007)
$1.098 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables, fruits; milk, eggs
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel,
cement, energy, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - production:
6.376 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - consumption:
7.358 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.491 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - exports:
7,410 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Oil - imports:
26,730 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - consumption:
70 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - imports:
70 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Current account balance:
-$1.21 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
-$247 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$3.971 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$3.35 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures, iron
and steel
Exports - partners:
Serbia and Montenegro 20.4%, Germany 15.4%, Greece 12.4%, Bulgaria
10.1%, Italy 8.8%, Croatia 6.5% (2008)
Imports:
$6.523 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$4.976 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products
Imports - partners:
Germany 13.3%, Greece 12.4%, Bulgaria 9.9%, Serbia and Montenegro
6.9%, Italy 6.3%, Turkey 5.6%, Slovenia 5.3%, Poland 4.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.109 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$2.265 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.667 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$3.967 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.405 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar - 41.414 (2008 est.), 44.732
(2007), 48.978 (2006), 48.92 (2005), 49.41 (2004)
Communications ::Macedonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
457,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 101
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.502 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
Telephone system:
general assessment: competition from the mobile-cellular segment of
the telecommunications market has led to a drop in fixed-line
telephone subscriptions
domestic: combined fixed line and mobile telephone subscribership
approaching 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 389 (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 32, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
52 (2007)
Internet country code:
.mk
Internet hosts:
57,763 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81
Internet users:
847,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 97
Transportation ::Macedonia
Airports:
14 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 699 km
country comparison to the world: 105
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (223 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 13,182 km (includes 208 km of expressways) (2002)
country comparison to the world: 128
Military ::Macedonia
Military branches:
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command,
with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV),
Special Operations Regiment (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 532,856
females age 16-49: 513,684 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 444,247
females age 16-49: 427,556 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 14,596
female: 13,881 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
6% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Transnational Issues ::Macedonia
Disputes - international:
Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary in
September 2008; Greece continues to reject the use of the name
Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
although not a financial center and most criminal activity is
thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a
mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Madagascar (Africa)
Introduction ::Madagascar
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 achieved a second term following a landslide
victory in the generally free and fair presidential elections of
2006. In early 2009, protests due to increasing restrictions on
opposition press and activities resulted in RAVALOMANANA stepping
down and the presidency was conferred to the mayor of Antananarivo,
Andry RAJOELINA. Following negotiations in July and August of 2009,
a power-sharing agreement with a 15-month transitional period was
established. Elections are expected in the fall of 2010.
Geography ::Madagascar
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
country comparison to the world: 46
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,501 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
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 extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands,
semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.03%
permanent crops: 1.02%
other: 93.95% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
337 cu km (1984)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 14.96 cu km/yr (3%/2%/96%)
per capita: 804 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique
Channel
People ::Madagascar
Population:
20,653,556 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 4,523,033/female 4,460,473)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 5,483,684/female 5,557,098)
65 years and over: 3% (male 280,677/female 348,591) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Birth rate:
38.14 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Death rate:
8.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 29% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 59.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.89 years
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 60.93 years
female: 64.91 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.14 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
14,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, malaria, and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
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
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 144
Government ::Madagascar
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
former: Malagasy Republic
Government type:
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)
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa,
Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
passed by referendum 19 August 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Andry RAJOELINA (since 18 March 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Monja Roindefo ZAFITSIMIVALO
(since 18 March 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006
(next to be held in October 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA 54.8%, Jean
LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO 9.1%,
Norbert RATSIRAHONANA 4.2%, Ny Hasina ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia
RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety RAKOTONIAINA 1.7%, other 1.6%; note -
RAVALOMANANA stepped down on 17 March 2009
note:: on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc
RAVALOMANANA stepped down handing the government over to the
military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition
leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA, who will head the
High Transition Authority; a power-sharing agreement reached in
August 2009 established a 15-month transition period, concluding in
general elections
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (100 seats;
two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies; the remaining
one-third of seats appointed by the president; to serve four-year
terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (127 seats -
reduced from 160 seats by an April 2007 national referendum; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 23 September 2007 (next to
be held in late 2010); note - a power-sharing agreement in the
summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in
general elections
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - TIM 106, LEADER/Fanilo 1, independents 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute
Cour Constitutionnelle
Political parties and leaders:
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot
RAJAONARIVELO]; Democratic Party for Union in Madagascar or PSDUM
[Jean LAHINIRIKO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for
National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana
Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc
RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD
[Evariste MARSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee
for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council
of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jocelyn Bertin RADIFERA
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525 through 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador R. Niels MARQUARDT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical
white band of the same width on hoist side
Economy ::Madagascar
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.18 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
$18.86 billion (2007 est.)
$17.76 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.463 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
6.2% (2007 est.)
5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
$1,000 (2007 est.)
$900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.2%
industry: 15.2%
services: 58.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
9.504 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 51
Population below poverty line:
50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 41.5% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
47.5 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 33
38.1 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
26.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Budget:
revenues: $1.612 billion
expenditures: $2.05 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
10.3% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
45% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 3
45% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.217 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 84
$1.161 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$667.2 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
$577.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$820.3 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 111
$767.5 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products
Industries:
meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar,
textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,
petroleum, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - production:
1.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - consumption:
971.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
84.57 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Oil - exports:
364.9 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - imports:
16,940 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Current account balance:
-$1.03 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
-$807 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.254 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$1.095 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum
products
Exports - partners:
France 38.9%, US 20.3%, Germany 5% (2008)
Imports:
$2.419 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$1.944 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:
China 20.1%, Bahrain 8.7%, France 6.3%, South Africa 5.7%, US 4.9%,
India 4.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$982.3 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$846.7 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.023 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$4.6 billion (2002)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - 1,654.78 (2008 est.), 1,880
(2007), 2,161.4 (2006), 2,003 (2005), 1,868.9 (2004)
Communications ::Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:
164,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 130
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.835 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
Telephone system: