Ranked 68th in the 2010 Failed States Index and 135th in the Human Development Index out of 169 countries and areas, Madagascar is considered to have a low level of human development. (2.4) Madagascar's development situation is the product of a history of corrupt government and neocolonialism. Madagascar has been labeled a “developing” country due to its current conditions. In recent decades, Madagascar's life expectancy at birth and expected years of schooling have increased, but gross national income (GNI) per capita has declined. (3) Madagascar's economic situation is that of a developing nation with opportunities. In 2008 the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was $958, with 67.83% of the population living on less than $1.25 a day. (4) Total GDP in 2010 was $20.73 billion, with a growth rate of 1.5%. (1) Madagascar has a population of 21,926,221 (July 2011 estimate) and the distribution of wealth is significantly divided. The country's poorest 10% receive only 2.6% of income, while the richest 10% earn 41.5%. (1) The remaining percentage of income is believed to be in the hands of the richest 20% of the population. This wide divide in income distribution is one of the main reasons why the country is classified as developing. Madagascar has many industries including: meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glass, cement, automobile assembly plants, paper, oil, and tourism. (1) Agriculture represents over a quarter of GDP and employs 80% of Madagascar's population. However, deforestation has led to erosion which has fueled serious concerns about the well-being of agricultural industries. A 50% decline in the tourism industry coupled with political unrest has caused… middle of paper… the ability to export and manage the effects of current neo-colonialism can only be addressed by the government of Madagascar. Those living in poverty have the numbers to challenge the status quo, but the strength is not currently there. Providing more food and extra income can provide the means to increase their strength. Works Cited1 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html2 http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid =1403 http://hdrstats.undp.org/images/explanations/MDG.pdf4 http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles /MDG.html5 https://www.cia.gov/library/ publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html6 http://www.wildmadagascar.org/history/7 http://www.beppegrillo. it/eng/2008/11/madagascar_daewoo_and_neocolon.html8 http://www.agoa.info/?view=.&story=news&subtext=1383