Facts about Poverty in
MADAGASCAR
70 percent of the population struggles to survive on less than US $1 a day
Madagascar is the world's ninth-poorest country* with the 2nd highest level of malnutrition in Africa, only Ethiopia is worse.
1 in every 5 children never goes to school and only 2 out of every 5 pupils complete primary school.
Almost 100,000 Malagasy children aged under five die each year from preventable diseases,such as malaria, diarrhea and acute
respiratory illnesses.
Half of the nation's children (and 50 percent of the total population) suffer from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition.
With the soaring poverty rate, some 10,000 homeless people living in the streets of Antananarivo, a city of 1.4 million, an inflation rate of 28 percent last year and a 70-percent devaluation of the national currency between 2003 and 2004, “Doctors Without Borders” (MSF) said the situation was beyond its control and it is pulling out of Madagascar. May 21, 2005
- Three-quarters of the 17 million people in the Indian Ocean state, the world's fourth largest island, live on less than a dollar a day.
- "Madagascar has the second highest level of malnutrition in Africa - only Ethiopia is worse.” (A quote from Jennifer Overton, the Catholic Relief Services representative to Madagascar)
- "More than 50 percent of Malagasy children are malnourished and therefore not developing." (also quoted from Jennifer Overton)
(All information above from October 21 2004 ALLAFRICA.com)
- An estimated 1 million children do not attend school in Madagascar. According to UNICEF, chronic poverty is the main reason for this. Many young people have dropped out of school because they simply cannot afford to attend classes. In some cases, children who are 17 years old are too old to attend formal primary school." UNICEF communication officer Misbah Sheikh told IRIN.
- Although Madagascar has made steady progress in education, one in every five children still does not go to school. (Also quoted from Misbah Sheikh)
- Only 39 out of every 100 pupils complete primary school.
(From: “MADAGSCAR: Project Gives School Dropouts Income Generating Skills”
IRINews Africa Mon 16 Aug 2004)
· According to a World Bank ranking, Madagascar is the world's ninth-poorest country, where some 70 percent of the population struggles to survive on less than US $1 a day.
· Nearly half the island's 15 million inhabitants are less than 18 years old.
· The grim reality is that almost 100,000 Malagasy children aged under five die each year from preventable diseases, such as malaria, diarrhea and acute respiratory illnesses.
· Half of the nation's children (and 50 percent of the total population) suffer from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition. (From “UN cooperation agreement to tackle poverty” on IRIN website, Feb 15, 2005)