By RFIPalled on 06-08-2019Modified on 06-08-2019 at 22:45

On Tuesday, August 6, the National Institute of Statistics revealed the first provisional census data, made in June 2018. The population had not been enumerated since 1993. These are results that had been expected for several months, for several years even. The detailed and definitive results relating to the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population will be announced by the end of the year. However, we already know the number of inhabitants. A datum, which itself, should vary very little.

Twenty-five years ago, Madagascar had 12.2 million inhabitants. Today, according to the latest census, the population has more than doubled: the country now has 25.7 million inhabitants. In 2018 alone, the number of births was estimated at 900,000.

For Richard Randriamandrato, the Minister of the Economy and Finance, if the current economic growth allows for the moment to cope with this demographic boom, the country however has a real challenge to meet: " By 10, 15, 20 If public policies are not able to slow this demographic growth too high for the moment, I think we will have missed the possibility of placing Madagascar in a trajectory of economic emergence. You have to face that. There are far too many young people and we will work with the technical and financial partners so that we can regulate the birth rate and face this great challenge. Solutions exist. "

The census also revealed that a Malagasy household is composed of an average of 4.2 individuals. A surprisingly low figure, but that is easily explained, tells the general director of Instat, Zefania Romalahy. " It's true that we often see families with eight or even ten children, especially in rural areas. But when we realize this phenomenon of early marriages or marriages before the age of 18 when young homes are formed, still childless, that's what pulls the national average down. "

With 50% of its population under 18 years old, Madagascar has a vital force to capitalize on. Provided that the challenges of education and nutrition are cleverly addressed.

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