Poverty statistics
Madagascar is a very poverty stricken country. About 70.7% of the population is under the poverty line. About 75% of the population lives off of about $1.90 a day, which is less than the average gallon of milk, or loaf of bread in the United States. The youth poverty rate is estimated to be about 80% of children 18 and under that live under the poverty line. Only about 46% of the entire country has access to drinking water and about 15% have effective sanitary systems. According to UNICEF about 50% of the population of children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Housing and Taxes
Most of the housing in Madagascar is very poor and poverty stricken. The houses are made mainly out of mud and bamboo in rural areas. In more suburban areas, the houses are made of wood planks with steep roofs. Housing in Madagascar is very small and compact. There are very few high-income houses in Madagascar, because of the extremely large poverty rate. The average income tax rate in Madagascar is a large amount at about 23%. "Revenue of foreign businesses providing services to a Madagascar taxpayer that do not have a permanent establishment (PE) in Madagascar is subject to WHT at a rate of 10% of any income realised in Madagascar, including dividends. However, financial loan interest is subject to WHT of 20%."