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, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eulalie N.
RAVELOSOA
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; by tradition, red stands
for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity
National anthem:
name: "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
note: adopted 1959
Economy ::Madagascar
Economy - overview:
After discarding socialist economic policies in the mid-1990s,
Madagascar followed a World Bank- and IMF-led policy of
privatization and liberalization that has been undermined since the
start of the political crisis. 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. However,
Madagascar's failure to comply with the requirements of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) led to the termination of the
country's duty-free access in January 2010. Deforestation and
erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of
fuel, are serious concerns. Former President RAVALOMANANA worked
aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political
crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. The current
political crisis which began in early 2009 has dealt additional
blows to the economy. Tourism dropped more than 50% in 2009,
compared with the previous year, and many investors are wary of
entering the uncertain investment environment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.73 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$20.42 billion (2009 est.)
$20.63 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$8.33 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
-1% (2009 est.)
7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
$1,000 (2009 est.)
$1,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.5%
industry: 16.7%
services: 56.8% (2010 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: 32
38.1 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
34.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
45% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
45% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.233 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 133
$1.228 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.012 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$1.994 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
$997.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)
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:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - production:
1.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - consumption:
971.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Oil - exports:
365 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Oil - imports:
16,940 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Current account balance:
-$600 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
-$561 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.412 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.309 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum
products
Exports - partners:
France 28.9%, US 20.49%, Germany 5.89%, China 4.36% (2009)
Imports:
$1.958 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$1.893 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food
Imports - partners:
China 12.99%, Thailand 11.93%, Bahrain 7.1%, France 6.89%, US 4.13%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.038 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$1.136 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.973 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$2.261 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar - 2,062.5 (2010), 1,956.21
(2009), 1,654.78 (2008), 1,880 (2007), 2,161.4 (2006)
Communications ::Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:
181,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.997 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 86
Telephone system:
general assessment: system is above average for the region;
Antananarivo's main telephone exchange modernized in the late 1990s,
but the rest of the analogue-based telephone system is poorly
developed; have been adding fixed line connections since 2005
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about
30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 261; SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cable
and the Lion undersea cable connecting to Reunion and Mauritius;
satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1
Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region) (2009)
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
predominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters
are available in Antananarivo (2007)
Internet country code:
.mg
Internet hosts:
27,606 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
Internet users:
319,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Transportation ::Madagascar
Airports:
84 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 67
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 57
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 20 (2010)
Railways:
total: 854 km
country comparison to the world: 98
narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 65,663 km
country comparison to the world: 70
paved: 7,617 km
unpaved: 58,046 km (2003)
Waterways:
600 km
country comparison to the world: 80
note: 432 km navigable (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 124
by type: cargo 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear)
Military ::Madagascar
Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for male-only voluntary military service; no
conscription; service obligation - 18 months (either military or
equivalent civil service); 20-30 years of age for National
Gendarmerie recruits (35 years of age for those with military
experience) (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,745,274
females age 16-49: 4,750,188 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,268,291
females age 16-49: 3,541,256 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 242,334
female: 241,359 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 134
Transnational Issues ::Madagascar
Disputes - international:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de
Nova Island (all administered by France); the vegetated drying cays
of Banc du Geyser, which were claimed by Madagascar in 1976, also
fall within the EEZ claims of the Comoros and France (Glorioso
Islands, part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used
mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Malawi (Africa)
Introduction ::Malawi
Background:
Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became
the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of
one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country
held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution
that came into full effect the following year. Current President
Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor and
subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) in 2005. As president, MUTHARIKA has overseen economic
improvement but because of political deadlock in the legislature,
his minority party has been unable to pass significant legislation,
and anti-corruption measures have stalled. Population growth,
increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the
spread of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi. MUTHARIKA was
reelected to a second term in May 2009.
Geography ::Malawi
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Geographic coordinates:
13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 118,484 sq km
country comparison to the world: 99
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,404 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to
November)
Terrain:
narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary
with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Natural resources:
limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium,
coal, and bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20.68%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 78.14% (2005)
Irrigated land:
560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
17.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (15%/5%/80%)
per capita: 78 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural
runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds
endangers fish populations
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most
prominent physical feature
People ::Malawi
Population:
15,447,500
country comparison to the world: 64
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.4% (male 3,419,711/female 3,404,726)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 3,889,065/female 3,915,309)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 172,679/female 227,267) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.1 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.758% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Birth rate:
41.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Death rate:
13.69 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 91
Urbanization:
urban population: 19% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.015 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 83.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 87.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.92 years
country comparison to the world: 211
male: 50.22 years
female: 51.64 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.51 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
11.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
930,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
68,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups:
Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde,
Asian, European
Religions:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)
Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka
9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998
census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.2% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 101
Government ::Malawi
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland
Government type:
multiparty democracy
Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa,
Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe),
Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata
Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo,
Zomba
Independence:
6 July 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)
Constitution:
18 May 1994
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004)
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 May 2009
(next to be held in May 2014)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of
vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA 66%, John TEMBO 30.7%, other 3.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
DPP 114, MCP 26, UDF 17, independents 32, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the
president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial
Service Commission); magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Dindi NYASULU]; Congress of
Democrats or CODE [Ralph KASAMBARA]; Democratic Progressive Party or
DPP [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO];
Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for
Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Maravi People's
Party [Uladi MUSSA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New
Rainbow Coalition Party [Beatrice MWALE]; New Republican Party
[Gwanda CHAKUWAMBA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke
BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO];
Republican Party or RP [Stanley MASAULI]; United Democratic Front or
UDF [Bakili MULUZI]; United Democratic Party [Kenedy KALAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agri-Ecology Media (agriculture and environmental group); Council
for NGOs in Malawi or CONGOMA (human rights, democracy, and
development); Human Rights Consultative Committee or HRCC (human
rights); Malawi Law Society (human rights and law reform); Malawi
Movement for the Restoration of Democracy or MMRD (acts to restore
and maintain democracy); Public Affairs Committee or PAC (promotes
democracy, development, peace and unity)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. Tennyson MATENJE
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE
embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), black, and green; a white
sun disc is centered on the black band, its surrounding 45 white
rays extend partially into the red and green bands; black represents
the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for
freedom, and green the color of nature; the sun represents Malawi's
economic progress since attaining independence
National anthem:
name: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)
lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
note: adopted 1964
Economy ::Malawi
Economy - overview: