In Brief
• Surface area: 587 040 Km2
• Population: 17 million
• Population growth: 3,1% per annum
• Language: Malagasy, English, French
• Population density: 29 Inhabitants/km2
• Nominal GDP (estimation 2004): 4, 56 Billion US $
• Rate of economic growth (2005): 4,60%
• GDP per capita (2005): 309 US$
• Annual inflation rate (estimation 2004): 7,5%
• Principal exports: Europe 49%, USA 21%,
• Principal imports: Europe 39%, Hong Kong 10%, Chine 5%
• Index of human development (2005) : 146/177
• Life expectancy (2005): 55,5 years
• Literacy rate (2005) : 63%
• Geo-economic location :
- 3 weeks from a European port
- 3 weeks from Shanghai by ship
- 10 hours flight from Paris
- 7 hours flight from Bangkok