Population growth continues at a sustained pace in Madagascar, according to the results of the last census : the Malagasy population increases each year by more than 368,000 people. The country has 25,674,174 inhabitants, 80% rural. Analanga, the capital region Antananarivo, is by far the most populated with a density of 209 inhabitants per km2, compared to 43 on average. More than half of the 25 million Malagasy people reside in the Central Highlands. Finally, life expectancy is 69,7 years for women but 65,7 years only for men.
Corruption : progress and doubts
Madagascar appears at 149th place in the 2020 ranking of the corruption perception index by economic circles and various experts, established by the NGO Transparency International in 180 countries. The Big Island is progressing slightly, particularly after having adopted a law on the recovery of illicit assets. But at the same time, Transparency International reveals acts of corruption during the distribution of social aid during the health crisis and expresses doubts about the distribution of funds from the government emergency plan. The largest part of this budget was allocated to infrastructure projects corresponding to the electoral promises of future president Andry Rajoelina..
Eau : drilling against shortage
Madagascar and in particular its capital Antananarivo have been faced with a serious shortage of drinking water in recent months, due to a late start to the rainy season. Obsolete networks and insufficient investments to meet the growing needs of the population generate shortages that are increasingly experienced by the population., faced with daily cuts. In response, the government announced at the end of January the implementation of 46 boreholes in the Antananarivo region. More than half of the population of the Big Island does not have access to a source of potable water.
Orange Madagascar : Mauritians disengage
Two minority shareholders left Orange’s capital at the start of 2021 : the holding company Terra Mauritius and Kibo Capital Partners, Mauritian asset management company. The two investors have been present in the capital of Orange Madagascar since 2010. According to the Malagasy press, the 16% held by Mauritian shareholders were bought by Orange. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
The Malagasy telecoms market is growing strongly and Orange is the leader in voice and data., while developing a digital finance offering with its subsidiary Orange Money.
