Demographics of Madagascar

Image:Madagascar-demography.png, year 2022; number of inhabitants in millions.]]

Image:Madagascar popdens 2004.png

The problem with population estimation in Madagascar is that data is very old and limited. The last population census was carried out in 1993, after an initial 1975 census. There was an attempt at a census in 2009, but this attempt ultimately failed due to political instability. Therefore, the demographic situation is inferred but reliability of any estimates from any source has a large margin of error.

According to {{UN_Population|source}} the total population was {{UN_Population|Madagascar}} in {{UN_Population|Year}}, compared to only 4,084,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 43.1%, 53.8% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.1% was 65 years or older.[http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506065230/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm |date=May 6, 2011 }}

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019) (Unrevised data. Data refer to projections based on the 1993 Population

Census.):{{Cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/|title=UNSD - Demographic and Social Statistics}}

UN medium variant projections:

Registration of vital events in Madagascar is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.

Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects, 2022{{cite UN WPP|2022|rows=2165:2236|cols=X,AE,S,AH,S,AA,AV}}

Image:Family Madagascar.jpg

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):{{cite web|url=http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/dhs#_r=&collection=&country=&dtype=&from=1890&page=9&ps=&sk=&sort_by=nation&sort_order=&to=2014&topic=&view=s&vk=|title=MEASURE DHS: Demographic and Health Surveys|website=microdata.worldbank.org}}{{Cite web|url=https://dhsprogram.com/Where-We-Work/Country-Main.cfm?ctry_id=23&c=Madagascar&Country=Madagascar&cn=&r=1|title=The DHS Program - Country Madagascar|website=dhsprogram.com|access-date=2019-12-17}}

Fertility data as of 2008-2009 (DHS Program):{{Cite web|url=http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR236/FR236.pdf|title=Madagascar Health and Demographic Survey 2008-2009|date=2009|website=Madagascar Health and Demographic Survey}}

{{GraphChart

| width = 450

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| x = 1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

| y1= 25.8,26.2,26.5,26.8,27.0,27.3,27.6,28.0,28.1,28.3,28.4,28.7,28.8,29.0,29.2,29.3,29.5,29.7,30.1,30.7,31.1,31.6,31.8,32.2,32.6,32.7,

32.8,33.0,33.1,33.0,32.7,32.5,32.3,32.1,31.4,31.1,30.6,30.3,30.1,29.8,29.3,29.0,28.5,28.2,28.0,28.1,28.2,28.1,28.2,28.5,28.9,29.4,29.6,30.2,

30.7,31.2,31.2,31.0,30.8,30.8,30.8,30.6,30.3,31.1,31.6,31.8,31.7,31.7,31.3,31.1,30.5,30.0

| y1Title=Natural change (per 1000)

}}

{{GraphChart

| width = 450

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| x = 1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

| y1= 140.1,138.8,137.4,135.5,133.4,131.2,130.0,128.4,126.7,124.9,122.9,121.4,119.5,117.9,116.4,114.9,113.8,112.0,109.8,107.3,105.8,103.9,101.6,99.8,98.8,98.4,

99.7,100.9,102.0,103.1,104.2,105.4,106.5,107.3,107.4,106.9,105.7,103.8,101.4,98.5,95.5,92.7,90.0,87.1,84.5,81.8,79.0,76.1,73.1,70.3,67.8,64.9,62.6,60.2,58.0,55.8,53.9,52.0,50.2,48.6,47.1,45.8,44.6,43.4,42.3,41.3,40.3,39.3,38.2,37.2,36.3,35.4

| y1Title=Infant Mortality (per 1000 live births)

}}

{{GraphChart

| width = 450

| height = 150

| xAxisTitle=years

| yAxisTitle= TFR

| yAxisMin=

| yGrid= 0,1

| xGrid= 10

| hAnnotatonsLine=

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| type = line

| x = 1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

| y1= 7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.30,7.31,7.31,7.31,7.31,7.30,7.30,7.29,7.27,7.25,7.22,7.19,7.15,7.10,7.04,6.98,6.90,6.81,6.73,6.64,

6.55,6.48,6.41,6.35,6.31,6.29,6.21,6.18,6.16,6.12,6.08,6.04,5.99,5.95,5.89,5.80,5.68,5.55,5.40,5.32,5.23,5.17,5.13,5.10,5.06,5.00,4.93,4.87,4.76,4.61,

4.47,4.36,4.25,4.18,4.16,4.11,4.04,3.98,3.92,3.85

| y1Title=Total Fertility Rate

}}

Source: UN World Population Prospects{{cite web|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|access-date=2017-07-15}}

{{unreferenced section|date=April 2025}}

{{further|Malagasy peoples}}

{{see also|French people in Madagascar|Chinese people in Madagascar|Indians in Madagascar}}

File:Map of various tribes in Madagascar.jpg

The island of Madagascar is predominantly populated by people broadly classified as belonging to the Malagasy ethno-linguistic group. This group is further subdivided a number of ethnic groups, often into the standard eighteen. In addition, communities of Indians, Arabs and Somalis in Madagascar have long been established on the island and have assimilated into local communities to varying degrees, in some places having long since become identified "Malagasy" ethnic groups, and in others maintaining distinct identities and cultural separation. More recent arrivals include Europeans and Chinese immigrants.

Madagascar was probably uninhabited prior to Austronesian settlement in the early centuries AD. Austronesian (particularly Malay) features are most predominant in the central highlands peoples, while coastal peoples are phenotypically more East African, sometimes with minor Arab, Somali, European and Indian admixtures. The largest coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1,500,000) and the Tsimihety and Sakalava (700,000 each). Malagasy society has long been polarized between the politically and economically advantaged highlanders of the central plateaux and the people along the coast. For example, in the 1970s there was widespread opposition among coastal ethnics against the policy of "Malagasization" which intended to phase out the use of the French language in public life in favour of a more prominent position for the Malagasy language, whose orthography is based on the Merina dialect.

Indians in Madagascar descend mostly from traders who arrived in the newly independent nation looking for better opportunities. The majority of them came from the west coast of India known as Karana (Muslim) and Banian (Hindu). The majority speak Hindi or Gujarati, although some other Indian languages are also spoken. {{As of|2007|alt=Nowadays}} the younger generations speak at least three languages, including French, Gujarati and Malagasy. A large number of the Indians in Madagascar have a high level of education, particularly the younger generation.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}

A sizeable number of Europeans also reside in Madagascar, mostly of French descent.

Malagasy (official, and national language), French (official).

File:Antsirabe - église.JPG cathedral in Antsirabe.]]

{{further|Malagasy mythology}}

{{see also |Madagascar#Religion|Christianity in Madagascar|Islam in Madagascar|Hinduism in Madagascar|Bahá'í Faith in Madagascar|History of the Jews in Madagascar}}

{{Pie chart

| thumb = left

| caption = Religion in Madagascar (2020) according to the Pew Research Center{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/madagascar/religious_demography|title = Religions in Madagascar | PEW-GRF}}

| label1 = Christian

| value1 = 85.4

| color1 = Blue

| label3 = Muslim

| value3 = 3

| color3 = Green

| label2 = Folk religions

| value2 = 4.6

| color2 = Beige

| label4 = Unaffiliated/Other

| value4 = 7

| color4 = Grey

}}

According to the 1993 national census, 41% of Malagasies practised Christianity and 52% practise traditional religion,{{cite web |last = Bureau of African Affairs |title = Background Note: Madagascar |publisher = U.S. Department of State |date = 3 May 2011 |url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5460.htm |access-date =24 August 2011}} which tends to emphasize links between the living and the razana (ancestors); by 2020, only 4.5% of Malagasies exclusively practised folk religions and 85% were Christian (according to the Pew Research Center).{{cite web |url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/madagascar#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010®ion_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2015 |title=Religions in Madagascar | PEW-GRF |publisher=Globalreligiousfutures.org |access-date=20 September 2017 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109064122/http://globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/madagascar#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010®ion_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2015 |url-status=dead }} The Association of Religion Data Archives noted that in 2020, 58.1% of the population is Christian, 2.1% is Muslim and 39.2% practices traditional faiths, while 0.6% of the population is non-religious or adheres to other faiths.{{cite web | url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=137c | title= ARDA website, 2023-08-08 }}

Madagascar's traditional religions tend to emphasize links between the living and the dead. They believe that the dead join their ancestors in the ranks of divinity and that ancestors are intensely concerned with the fate of their living descendants. This spiritual communion is celebrated by the Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or "turning over the dead". In this ritual, relatives' remains are removed from the family tomb, rewrapped in new silk shrouds, and returned to the tomb following festive ceremonies in their honor. In the festivities, they eat, drink, and literally dance with the dead. After one or two days of celebrating, they shower the body with gifts and rebury it.

Malagasy Christians are roughly 50% Catholic and 50% Protestant (mainly Reformed Protestant Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), Lutheran, and Anglican) or Roman Catholic, but there are also smaller groups such as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, Eastern Orthodox Christians and evangelicals.[https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/Madagascar/ US State Dept 2022 report] Many incorporate the cult of the dead with their other religious beliefs and bless their dead at church before proceeding with the traditional burial rites. They also may invite a pastor to attend a famadihana. A historical rivalry exists between the predominantly Catholic masses, considered to be underprivileged, and the predominantly Protestant Merina aristocrats, who tend to prevail in the civil service, business, and professions.

Followers of Islam constitute approximately 3% of the population in 2022, according to the US Department of State; there are also small numbers of Hindus and Jews.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had more than 13,000 members in 42 congregations in Madagascar in 2013.{{citation |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/madagascar |title=Madagascar |department=Facts and Statistics |work=Newsroom |publisher=LDS Church |access-date=2013-03-10}}

A small community started practicing Judaism in 2010, and formally converted in 2016 with the assistance of Kulanu, a nonprofit organization focusing on remote Jewish communities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2016/11/25/united-states/in-madagascar-worlds-newest-jewish-community-seeks-to-establish-itself|title=In Madagascar, 'world's newest Jewish community' seeks to establish itself|date=2016-11-25|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-29}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2016/06/05/global/in-remote-madagascar-a-new-community-chooses-to-be-jewish|title=In remote Madagascar, a new community chooses to be Jewish|date=2016-06-05|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-29}}

{{Commons category|Demographics of Madagascar}}

• Matthew E. Hules, et al. (2005). The Dual Origin of the Malagasy in Island Southeast Asia and East Africa: Evidence from Maternal and Paternal Lineages. American Journal of Human Genetics, 76:894-901, 2005.

{{Ethnic groups in Madagascar}}

{{Africa in topic|Demographics of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demographics Of Madagascar}}

Category:Society of Madagascar