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As measured by the gross national product Madagascar is among the ten poorest countries in the world. From the 18 million people living in Madagascar around three quarters are living below the poverty line. In other words, they live with less then one US$ a day. Agriculture is a mainstay of the economy, employing 75% of the population. For many centuries the population has been living from what the earth gives them. Due to the high population growth (about 3% per annum) this is becoming more and more difficult.
Comparison: Madagascar - Switzerland
| Switzerland | | Madagascar |
| 39'980 US$ | per capita gross national product/Einw. | 260 US$ |
| 242'034 Mio. US$ | GDP (gross domestic product) | 3'640 Mio. US$ |
| 41'284 km² | area | 587'041km² |
| 7,2 Mio | population | 16,4 Mio |
| 76 (m)82 (w) | life expectancy | 53 (m)55 (w) |
| 1,38 children born/woman | fertility rate | 5,68 children born/woman |
| 0,5 % | infant mortality rate | 9,1% |
| unter 5 % | illitaracy rate | 26,4 % (m) 40,3 % (w) |
| 527 cars per 1000 inhabitants | motorisation | 8 cars per 1000 inhabitants |
Sources:
Mario von Bratta (Hrsg.): Der Fischer Weltalmanach (2002), Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag
Hans Ulrich Kägi: Madagaskar (2003), rano-Verlag, Brütten
Madagascar is a poor country with a rich culture. There are over 18 tribes with a cultural diversity of language, clothing, music as well as traditions and customs living peacefully together. The local people are very friendly and very hospitable towards strangers with hardly any violence or aggression to be found. Both its unique nature and its people make Madagascar a special place to visit.
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huts in the highlands
children in Madagascar
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