nd 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: 4%

permanent crops: 1%

permanent pastures: 41%

forests and woodland: 40%

other: 14% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from
deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water
contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several
species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location
along Mozambique Channel

Madagascar People

Population: 15,982,563 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.02% (male 3,607,803; female 3,587,532)

15-64 years: 51.77% (male 4,093,720; female 4,180,430)

65 years and over: 3.21% (male 239,839; female 273,239) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.02% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 42.66 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 12.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 83.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.35 years

male: 53.08 years

female: 57.68 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 11,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 870 (1999 est.)

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