In 2001 the President was elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term amid allegations of fraud. There is a democratic, bicameral legislature whose Prime Minister is appointed by the President. Legislative elections in 2002 resulted in the election of 106 out of 160 deputies from the Tiako-I-Madagasikara party and its coalition partners in the National Alliance; 6 of the country's many political parties are represented in the National Assembly. The election result was deemed credible, despite some problems. The Senate has 60 elected and 30 appointed senators.

8 women serve in the National Assembly, as do 6 Muslims, 1 Hindu and 2 Chinese-Malagasy deputies. Indo-Pakistani residents are not in the government because few have citizenship. Political and business leaders have considerable influence, including on the judiciary.

Discrimination of all forms is prohibited, but there is no provision for enforcement.

Security forces are accused of illegal searches of the homes and offices of opposition leaders.

Opposition to government is made difficult by the national guiding principles known as Pensée Unique, which characterise dissent as an attack on social harmony. There are said to be 32 political prisoners. The opposition leader, a National Assembly deputy, is imprisoned in what is believed to have been a politically motivated conviction.

Reports are made of abuse of prisoners. Security force members have been prosecuted for corruption, and efforts to curb official corruption are reported, including the announcement of a national anti-corruption strategy.

No legislation provides public access to government information. Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed in law but limited in practice. To stop criticism of government officials, threats are made of imprisonment, libel suits or harm to families, resulting in journalistic self-censorship. Journalists are poorly paid, earning only the minimum wage. With only 30% of the population literate, radio is the main source of mass information. Internet access is not restricted.

Trafficking in women and girls for prostitution takes place, and rural children are trafficked to urban centres for prostitution. The fight against child labour and trafficking is presented as a key objective of the administration. Some members of the minority Karana have been denied citizenship and are stateless.

Tuition-free public education is available for citizens up to age 14. Primary education is compulsory, and government statistics show 89% as the primary school net enrolment rate for 2004, but a 2004 World Bank study reports that only 68% of primary school–age children are enrolled in school. A large percentage of students do not complete the compulsory education component of schooling. As part of the Education For All program, the government distributed school supplies to primary school children nationwide.

The country has no uniform birth registration system, and unregistered children are not eligible to attend school or obtain health care services. UNICEF reports that some 2.5 million children under 17 are not registered. UNICEF has begun a registration programme. Urban girls stay in school longer than their rural counterparts, who tend to marry young.

Police forcibly dispersed student demonstrations protesting proposed educational reforms; 18 students were injured, and 16 were arrested. 8 students at the University of Majunga were arrested when they went to the administration building to try to collect their scholarships. Police launched tear gas canisters into a crowd of students protesting the arrests. A group of 100 students protesting the University of Tamatave's failure to disburse scholarship funds were also met with tear gas.

A 3-year programme begins at age 3. At this level 93% of education is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 10%. Of the 3,520 teachers working at this level, 91% are women. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 48 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 6 to 14. Primary school begins at age 6 and continues for 5 years. 19% of primary education is private. The NER is 89% (49% female). Of students who enrol in Grade 1, 57% continue to the last grade of primary school. 30% of students repeat grades. 64,270 teachers (60% female) work at this level. The PTR is 52 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 11 and is completed in 7 years. The Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) is 25% in lower secondary. 14% of students repeat grades.

42,143 students (47% female) study in tertiary institutions, giving a GER of 3%. 3,995 students study overseas, mainly in France (3,487), USA (109), Germany (100), Switzerland (80) and Canada (41).

The law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical and mental disabilities, and 24 facilities assist persons with disabilities. Unlike in earlier years, disabled students are now allowed to write entrance exams for school and university. Efforts to employ persons with disabilities in government have not met with success, with progress impaired by budget cuts.

Since 2000, NGOs have focused on the recognition of the rights of mentally handicapped children. 17 special education day centres are in operation. Though people have voiced scepticism at the integration of mentally handicapped children into regular school classes, 8 private denominational schools run integrated classes of this kind. Disability is perceived as a curse among Malagasy (the largest ethnic group), especially in the rural areas.

The law does not include provisions for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 protocol, but the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees in cooperation with the UNHCR. Government representatives indicated that, given the country's level of economic development, it could not take in unlimited numbers of refugees. It hosts a small refugee population with financial assistance from the UNDP.

18 tribes of Malagasy (mixed Malay-Polynesian, African and Arab) form the largest ethnic group, but none of the tribes constitutes a majority. Ethnic Indo-Pakistani, Comorian and Chinese groups live in the country. Ethnicity, caste and regional solidarity influence hiring. But data are not disaggregated by ethnicity, so it is difficult to examine the treatment of different groups in society.

Reports do not cite violations of academic freedom, but laws that limit freedom of speech also apply to academics.

Little social discrimination against women is reported in urban areas; many women own businesses and have management positions. Sexual harassment is against the law but is widespread. With parental authorisation, girls can marry at age 14 and boys at 17. Marriages at even earlier ages may be approved by the courts with parental permission; this happens in the case of pregnancy.

Domestic violence is prohibited, and police intervene when abuse is reported. Trafficking in women is noted. In rural areas young girls are pressured to marry soon after puberty. Underage marriage occurs in cities but is not prevalent.

The minimum age for work is 15, but this has not deterred child labour. Family farms employ some 13% of urban children and 36% of rural children aged 10 to 14. Rural children drop out of school to work on family farms, while urban children work as domestic servants.

The ILO reports children aged 8 at work in mines. Media reports cite instances of children aged 3 breaking rocks in stone quarries. Child labour laws are enforced in the formal sector but not in the much larger informal sector. A 15-year national plan has been approved to combat the worst forms of child labour. Centres have been opened to house the victims of trafficking and forced labour.

Workers may form and join trade unions, except for police and military personnel. Fewer than 10% of all workers are unionised. 70 to 80% of workers are engaged in agriculture. Few public employees are union members. Collective bargaining is permitted, but agreements are few. Civil service wages are set by the government, and minimum wages are proposed by the private sector.

Workers, including those in export processing zones, have the right to strike; even essential service workers have a restricted right to strike. Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited, but the prohibition is not enforced with respect to prison labour. Forced labour is also reported among rickshaw drivers and apprentices. Forced labour of children is reported.

The monthly minimum wage of US$25.30 (50,600 ariary) does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Minimum wage rates are not always paid. The standard work week is 40 hours in non-agricultural and service industries and 42½ hours in the agricultural sector.