Madagascar Military - 2022

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Madagascar People's Armed Forces (PAF): Army, Navy, Air Force; Ministry of Defense: National Gendarmerie; Ministry of Public Security: National Police (2022)

note: the National Gendarmerie is separate from the PAF and is responsible for maintaining law and order in rural areas at the village level, protecting government facilities, and operating a maritime police contingent; the National Police is responsible for maintaining law and order in urban areas

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

0.5% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $130 million)

0.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $130 million)

0.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $120 million)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 13,000 personnel (12,000 Army; 500 Navy; 500 Air Force); estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the PAF's inventory consists mostly of aging Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of second-hand equipment from France, South Africa, and the UAE (2022)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for men and women; service obligation 18 months; no conscription; women are permitted to serve in all branches (2022)

Military - note

one of the military’s duties is assisting the gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, particularly in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling (cattle thieves are known as dahalo), and criminal groups (2022)

NOTE: The information regarding Madagascar on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Madagascar 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Madagascar 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.