red (top) and green with a
vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

@Madagascar:Economy

Overview: Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world,
suffering from chronic malnutrition, underfunded health and education
facilities, a 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of
forest cover, accompanied by erosion. Agriculture, including fishing
and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for over 30%
of GDP and contributing more than 70% of total export earnings.
Industry is largely confined to the processing of agricultural
products and textile manufacturing; in 1991 it accounted for only 13%
of GDP. In 1986 the government introduced a five-year development plan
that stressed self-sufficiency in food (mainly rice) by 1990,
increased production for exports, and reduced energy imports.
Subsequently, growth in output has been held back because of
protracted antigovernment strikes and demonstrations for political
reform. Since 1993, corruption and political instability have caused
the economy and infrastructure to decay further. Since April 1994, the
government commitment to economic reforms has been erratic. Enormous
obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable
growth potential.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.6 billion (1994
est.)

National product real growth rate: 2.8% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $790 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $250 million
expenditures: $265 million, including capital expenditures of $180
million (1991 est.)

Exports: $240 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: coffee 45%, vanilla 20%, cloves 11%, shellfish, sugar,
petroleum products
partners: France, US, Germany, Japan, Russia

Imports: $510 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: intermediate manufactures 30%, capital goods 28%,
petroleum 15%, consumer goods 14%, food 13%
partners: France, Germany, Japan, UK, Italy, Netherlands

External debt: $4.3 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1993 est.); accounts for 13%
of GDP

Electricity:
capacity: 220,000 kW
production: 560 million kWh
consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1993)

Industries: agricultural processing (meat canneries, soap factories,
breweries, tanneries, sugar refining plants), light consumer goods
industries (textile