Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1989 est.)
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
natural hazards: periodic cyclones
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along
Mozambique Channel
@Madagascar:People
Population: 13,862,325 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (female 3,231,647; male 3,265,715)
15-64 years: 50% (female 3,511,699; male 3,413,564)
65 years and over: 3% (female 225,205; male 214,495) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.18% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 44.82 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 12.99 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)