: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages: French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 80%

male: 88%

female: 73% (1990 est.)

Madagascar Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar

conventional short form: Madagascar

local long form: Republique de Madagascar

local short form: Madagascar

former: Malagasy Republic

Government type: republic

Capital: Antananarivo

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: 19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional
Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since
10 February 1997)

head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot
ANDRIANARIVO (since NA 1998)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA November
2001); prime minister appointed by the president from a list of
candidates nominated by the National Assembly

election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent of
vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA) 49.3%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms); note - the legislature is scheduled to
become a bicameral Parliament with the establishment of a Senate;
two-thirds of the seats of this Senate will be filled by regional
assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the
remaining one-third of the seats will be appointed by the president;
the total number of seats will be determined by the National
Assembly; all members will serve four-year terms

elections: National Assembly - last held 17 May 1998 (next to be
held NA 2002)

election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - AREMA 63, LEADER/Fanilo 16, AVI 14, RPSD 11,
AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1,
independents 32

Judicial