History of Madagascar in Timeline
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country located off the southeastern coast of Africa. It comprises the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's fourth-largest island and the 46th-largest country. Its capital and largest city is Antananarivo.
1900: Population in 1900
In 1900, the population of Madagascar was 2.2 million.
1905: Charles Basset Thesis
In 1905, Charles Basset noted in his doctoral thesis that Malagasikara was the name the island's natives used, emphasizing they were Malagasy, not Madagasy.
1927: Demonstrations in Antananarivo
In 1927, major demonstrations were organized in Antananarivo, led by communist activist François Vittori, who was subsequently imprisoned.
1939: Dissolution of Organizations
In 1939, all political organizations in Madagascar were dissolved by the colonial administration, which had aligned with the Vichy regime.
1947: Insurrection of 1947
In 1947, the MDRM was blamed by the colonial regime for instigating an insurrection, which led to violent repression.
1956: Establishment of reformed institutions
In 1956, the French established reformed institutions in Madagascar under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), leading Madagascar peacefully towards independence.
October 1958: Proclamation of the Malagasy Republic
On 14 October 1958, the Malagasy Republic was proclaimed as an autonomous state within the French Community.
1958: European population in 1958
In 1958, the European population in Madagascar was 68,430.
1958: Official Languages Named
In 1958, the first national Constitution of the Malagasy Republic named Malagasy and French as the official languages.
1959: Adoption of a constitution
In 1959, Madagascar adopted a constitution at the end of the period of provisional government.
June 1960: Madagascar gains independence
Madagascar gained its independence on 26 June 1960.
June 1960: Full Independence
On 26 June 1960, Madagascar gained full independence after a period of provisional government and the adoption of a constitution in 1959.
September 1960: Madagascar joins the United Nations
Madagascar became a member state of the United Nations on 20 September 1960.
1960: Independence and continued capital status
In 1960, after Madagascar regained independence, Antananarivo remained the capital city.
1960: First Republic Established
In 1960, the First Republic of Madagascar was established under President Philibert Tsiranana, maintaining strong ties with France.
1960: Independence from France
Since Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960, the island's political transitions have been marked by numerous popular protests and crises.
1960: Restoration of political independence and sovereignty
The political independence and sovereignty of the Malagasy armed forces was restored with independence from France in 1960.
1963: Founding member of the Organisation of African Unity
Madagascar was a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity, which was established in 1963.
1964: First Olympic Games Competition
In 1964, Madagascar sent its first competitors to the Olympic Games.
1972: Overthrow of Tsiranana Administration
In 1972, farmer and student protests, driven by resentment over neo-colonial ties with France, led to the overthrow of President Tsiranana's administration.
1973: Economic Pressures from Oil Crisis
In 1973, economic pressures stemming from the oil crisis contributed to the collapse of Madagascar's economy.
1975: Start of Ratsiraka's Tenure
Excepting the brief presidency of Albert Zafy, from 1992 to 1996, Ratsiraka remained in power from 1975 to 2001.
1975: Political Instability
In 1975, Gabriel Ramanantsoa stepped down due to low public approval. Richard Ratsimandrava was assassinated six days into his tenure, and Didier Ratsiraka came to power.
1975: Census in 1975
One of the two general censuses after independence was carried out in Madagascar in 1975.
1976: Exodus of Comorans
In 1976, following anti-Comoran riots in Mahajanga, there was an exodus of Comorans from Madagascar.
1976: Mandatory national service instated
Under the socialist Second Republic, Admiral Didier Ratsiraka instated mandatory national armed or civil service for all young citizens regardless of sex in 1976.
1979: Economic Bankruptcy
By 1979, Madagascar had become completely bankrupt due to economic insularity and the oil crisis.
1990: Malagasy Fertility Rate in 1990
In 1990, the Malagasy fertility rate was 6.3 children per woman.
1991: Shooting of Unarmed Protesters
In 1991, presidential guards opened fire on unarmed protesters, leading to the establishment of a transitional government.
1991: End of mandatory national service
In 1991, the policy of mandatory national service, instated in 1976, came to an end.
1992: Presidency of Albert Zafy
Excepting the brief presidency of Albert Zafy, from 1992 to 1996, Ratsiraka remained in power from 1975 to 2001.
1992: Presidential Elections
In 1992, Albert Zafy won the presidential elections.
1992: Constitution of 1992
In 1992, the Constitution did not mention official languages, but Malagasy was identified as the national language.
1993: National Census Completed in 1993
According to the national census completed in 1993, 52% of the population adhered to indigenous beliefs, with Christianity at 41% and Islam at 7%.
1993: End of the Second Republic
In 1993, Didier Ratsiraka's tenure ended, marking the end of the Marxist–Leninist Second Republic.
1993: Census in 1993
One of the two general censuses after independence was carried out in Madagascar in 1993.
1996: Presidency of Albert Zafy
Excepting the brief presidency of Albert Zafy, from 1992 to 1996, Ratsiraka remained in power from 1975 to 2001.
1996: Impeachment of Zafy
In 1996, President Zafy was impeached due to economic decline and allegations of corruption, leading to Norbert Ratsirahonana becoming interim president.
1996: Increased Educational Access
In 1996, increased educational access led to a more than doubling of enrollment rates by 2006.
April 2000: Legal Case Against the State in April 2000
In April 2000, a citizen initiated a legal case against the state, arguing that publishing official documents only in French was unconstitutional.
2000: Early Human Visits
Around 2000 BCE, Madagascar was visited by foragers as evidenced by archaeological finds such as cut marks on bones in the northwest and stone tools in the northeast.
2000: Lemur Species Described
Between 2000 and 2008, 39 species of lemur were described by zoologists.
2001: Military neutrality during political standoff
During the protracted standoff between Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana in the 2001 presidential elections, the military remained neutral and refused to intervene.
2001: End of Ratsiraka's Tenure
Excepting the brief presidency of Albert Zafy, from 1992 to 1996, Ratsiraka remained in power from 1975 to 2001.
2001: Post-election standoff
Following the 2001 presidential elections, the eight-month standoff between incumbent Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana cost Madagascar millions of dollars in lost tourism and trade revenue and infrastructure damage.
2001: Contested Presidential Elections
In 2001, the contested presidential elections resulted in a standoff between supporters of Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka.
2001: Second Term for Ratsiraka
In 2001, the second term for Ratsiraka ended.
2001: Dispute over presidential election results
Madagascar was not permitted to attend the first African Union summit because of a dispute over the results of the 2001 presidential election.
2002: Dissolution of the Organisation of African Unity
In 2002 the Organisation of African Unity was dissolved and replaced by the African Union.
2002: Political Standoff
In 2002, there was a seven-month standoff between the supporters of Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka due to the contested election of 2001.
2002: Education Prioritized
In 2002, under the Ravalomanana administration, education was prioritized, becoming free and compulsory for children aged 6 to 13.
May 2003: Formation of Madagascar-U.S. Business Council
In May 2003, the Madagascar-U.S. Business Council was formed through a collaboration between USAID and Malagasy artisan producers to support the export of local handicrafts to foreign markets.
July 2003: Madagascar rejoins the African Union
In July 2003, Madagascar rejoined the African Union after a 14-month hiatus.
2003: Ravalomanana announces the Durban Vision
In 2003, Ravalomanana announced the Durban Vision, an initiative to more than triple the island's protected natural areas to over 60,000 km or 10 percent of Madagascar's land surface.
2004: Cyclone Gafilo
In 2004, Cyclone Gafilo, the strongest ever recorded to hit Madagascar, killed 172 people and caused extensive damage.
2004: Creation of BIANCO
Ravalomanana's 2004 creation of BIANCO, an anti-corruption bureau, resulted in reduced corruption among Antananarivo's lower-level bureaucrats in particular.
2006: Enrollment Rates Doubled
By 2006, enrollment rates in education had more than doubled since 1996.
2007: Rainforests of the Atsinanana declared a World Heritage Site
In 2007 six of the national parks were declared a joint World Heritage Site under the name Rainforests of the Atsinanana.
2007: Constitution of 2007
The Constitution of 2007 recognised three official languages in Madagascar: Malagasy, French, and English.
2008: Tourist arrivals
An estimated 365,000 tourists visited Madagascar in 2008.
2008: Lemur Species Described
Between 2000 and 2008, 39 species of lemur were described by zoologists.
2008: Government Spending on Health in 2008
Fifteen percent of government spending in 2008 was directed toward the health sector in Madagascar.
2008: Zafimaniry Woodworking on UNESCO List
In 2008, the decorative and functional woodworking traditions of the Zafimaniry people were inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
2008: Construction of Ehoala port
In 2008, the island's newest port at Ehoala was constructed and privately managed by Rio Tinto.
2008: Maternal Mortality Rate in 2008
In 2008, the maternal mortality rate in Madagascar was 373.1 per 100,000 births.
January 2009: Re-authorization of timber collection
In January 2009, the collection of small quantities of precious timber from national parks, which had been banned since 2000, was re-authorized by the administration of Andry Rajoelina as a key source of state revenues after cuts in donor support.
March 2009: Rajoelina Declared President
In March 2009, Andry Rajoelina was declared President of the High Transitional Authority by the Supreme Court, following a coup d'état.
March 2009: Suspension by the African Union
In March 2009, Madagascar was again suspended by the African Union following the unconstitutional transfer of executive power to Rajoelina.
2009: Media Censorship Allegations
Accusations of media censorship in Madagascar increased since 2009 due to alleged intensification of restrictions on political criticism.
2009: Access to Utilities in 2009
As of 2009, only 6.8 percent of Madagascar's fokontany had access to water provided by Jirama, while 9.5 percent had access to its electricity services.
2009: Budget cuts impact police force
Budget cuts since 2009 have severely impacted the national police force, leading to a steep increase in criminal activity.
2009: FIBA Africa Championship for Women Hosted
In 2009, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Championship for Women.
2009: Army faction sides with Rajoelina
In 2009, a segment of the army defected to the side of Andry Rajoelina in support of his attempt to force President Ravalomanana from power.
2009: Exports in 2009
In 2009, exports constituted 28 percent of Madagascar's GDP, with revenue mainly from textiles, fish, shellfish, vanilla, cloves, and other foodstuffs. France was the primary trading partner.
2009: Malagasy Fertility Rate in 2009
In 2009, the Malagasy fertility rate was 4.6 children per woman, declining from 6.3 in 1990.
2009: Protests against Ravalomanana
In early 2009, a series of protests led by Andry Rajoelina against Ravalomanana became violent, resulting in more than 170 deaths.
2009: Exploitation of natural resources leads to dire consequences
Since 2009 the exploitation of natural resources has had dire consequences for the island's wildlife.
2010: Constitution Adopted in 2010
A constitution adopted in 2010 following a referendum, recognised only Malagasy and French.
2010: Healthcare Statistics in 2010
In 2010, Madagascar had an average of three hospital beds per 10,000 people and a total of 3,150 doctors, 5,661 nurses, 385 community health workers, 175 pharmacists, and 57 dentists for a population of 22 million.
2010: Infrastructure in 2010
In 2010, Madagascar had approximately 7,617 km of paved roads, 854 km of railways, and 432 km of navigable waterways.
2010: Adoption of New Constitution
In 2010, a new constitution was adopted by referendum, establishing Madagascar's Fourth Republic.
2010: Maternal Mortality Rate in 2010
In 2010, the maternal mortality rate in Madagascar was 440 per 100,000 births.
2010: Decline in tourism
In 2010, tourist arrivals declined to 180,000 due to the political crisis.
December 2011: Internet Access in December 2011
In December 2011, an estimated 352,000 residents of Madagascar accessed the internet from home or in one of the nation's many internet cafés.
2011: Areas protected by the state
As of 2011, areas protected by the state included five Strict Nature Reserves, 21 Wildlife Reserves and 21 National Parks.
2011: FIBA Africa Championship Hosted
In 2011, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Championship.
2011: Teen Pregnancy Rates of 14.8 Percent in 2011
In 2011, teen pregnancy rates were 14.8 percent, much higher than the African average, contributing to rapid population growth in Madagascar.
2011: Percentage of GDP constituted by agriculture sector
In 2011, the agriculture sector constituted 29 percent of Malagasy GDP.
2011: Scouting Membership
In 2011, the membership in scouting clubs was estimated at 14,905.
2011: Economic growth starts
The economy, however, has been growing since 2011, with GDP growth exceeding 4% per year.
July 2012: Assessment of natural resource exploitation
In July 2012, an assessment found that the exploitation of natural resources since 2009 has had dire consequences for the island's wildlife. 90 percent of lemur species were found to be threatened with extinction.
2012: Lemur Species Count
As of 2012, there were officially 103 species and subspecies of lemur.
2012: GDP per capita increases
The GDP per capita has been growing since 2012.
2013: FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship Hosted
In 2013, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship.
2013: Rajaonarimampianina Declared Winner
In 2013, Hery Rajaonarimampianina was declared the winner of the presidential election.
January 2014: Constitutional Governance Restored
In January 2014, constitutional governance was restored in Madagascar, marking the end of a protracted transition towards its fourth republic following a political crisis and military coup in 2009.
2014: FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship Hosted
In 2014, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship.
2014: Plague Outbreak in 2014
In 2014, Madagascar had a plague outbreak, with 263 confirmed cases and 71 deaths.
2014: Public Expenditure on Education
In 2014, public expenditure on education was 2.8 percent of GDP.
2014: Discovery of the Asian common toad
In 2014, the Asian common toad was discovered in Madagascar. Researchers warned it could "wreak havoc on the country's unique fauna."
2015: FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women Hosted
In 2015, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women.
2015: Tourism sector grows
In 2015, the tourism sector has been growing steadily.
2015: GDP estimate
Madagascar's GDP in 2015 was estimated at US$9.98 billion, with a per capita GDP of $411.82.
2015: Madagascar Country Programme started
Starting in 2015, the World Food Programme started the Madagascar Country Programme with the two main goals of long-term development and reconstruction efforts, and addressing the food insecurity issues in the southern regions of Madagascar.
2016: Expected growth rate
During 2011–15, the average growth rate was 2.6% but was expected to have reached 4.1% in 2016.
2016: Malagasy Jewish Community converted to Orthodox Judaism
In 2016, 121 members of the Malagasy Jewish community were formally converted to Orthodox Judaism.
2016: Increase in tourist arrivals
In 2016, 293,000 tourists visited Madagascar, an increase of 20% compared to 2015.
2016: EU Infrastructure Project Financing Since 2016
Since 2016, €100.4 million has been paid to the Republic of Madagascar for a project creating 348 km of roads with better connections.
2016: Unemployment cut
Unemployment was also cut in 2016, which was equal to 2.1% with a work force of 13.4 million as of 2017.
January 2017: Police officers deployed in Haiti as part of UN mission
As of January 2017, 34 police officers from Madagascar are deployed in Haiti as part of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti.
2017: Deployment of police officers in Haiti
As of January 2017, 34 police officers from Madagascar were deployed in Haiti as part of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti.
2017: Tourism goal
For 2017 the country has the goal of reaching 366,000 visitors.
2017: Poverty and Malnutrition
In 2017, 92% of Madagascar's population was affected by poverty, making it fourth in the world for chronic malnutrition, with almost half of children under five stunted. Furthermore, access to clean water was difficult for many, with 12 million people lacking it.
2017: Plague Outbreak in 2017
In 2017, Madagascar experienced outbreaks of bubonic and pneumonic plague, resulting in 2575 cases and 221 deaths.
2017: Top Exports in 2017
In 2017, Madagascar's top exports included vanilla (US$894M), nickel metal (US$414M), cloves (US$288M), knitted sweaters (US$184M), and cobalt (US$143M).
2017: Population estimate of Antananarivo
In 2017, the capital's population was estimated at 1,391,433 inhabitants.
2017: GDP per capita
The GDP per capita was around $1600 (PPP) for 2017, one of the lowest in the world.
2018: Government tourist estimate
For 2018 government estimates are expected to reach 500,000 annual tourists.
2018: Undernourishment Rates in 2018
In 2018, undernourishment and hunger rates were at 42% in Madagascar.
2018: Madagascar remains a very poor country
The island is still a very poor country in 2018, structural brakes remain in the development of the economy.
January 2019: Rajoelina Declared Winner of Election
In January 2019, the High Constitutional Court declared Rajoelina the winner of the presidential elections and the new president.
June 2019: Rajoelina's Party Wins Parliamentary Elections
In June 2019, Rajoelina's party won an absolute majority in the National Assembly during parliamentary elections.
2019: Measles Outbreak in 2019
In 2019, Madagascar had a measles outbreak, resulting in 118,000 cases and 1,688 deaths.
2019: Gold Medal at African Games
In 2019, Madagascar's national 3x3 basketball team won the gold medal at the African Games.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020
In 2020, Madagascar was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Muslim Population in 2020
In 2020, Muslims constituted 2% of the population of Madagascar.
2021: Percentage of multidimensionally poor population
According to the United Nations Development Programme, as of 2021, 68.4 percent of the population is multidimensionally poor.
2021: Start of Famine
Mid-2021 marked the beginning of the 2021-2022 Madagascar famine.
January 2022: Internet Access in January 2022
By January 2022, 22.3 percent of the population (6.43 million people) had internet access in Madagascar, mostly through mobile phones.
February 2022: Cyclone Batsirai
In February 2022, Cyclone Batsirai caused 121 deaths in Madagascar.
December 2022: Construction of Antananarivo–Toamasina toll highway began
In December 2022, construction began on the Antananarivo–Toamasina toll highway, Madagascar's first toll highway, expected to connect the capital to its largest seaport in four years.
2022: High Costs of Climate Change Adaptation
A 2022 analysis found that Madagascar would face high costs to adapt to and avert the environmental consequences of climate change.
November 2023: Rajoelina Reelected President
In November 2023, Rajoelina was re-elected for another term with 58.95% of the vote in the first round of the election amidst controversies.
2023: Study on mammal species threatened with extinction
A 2023 study published in Nature Communications found that 120 of the 219 mammal species only found on Madagascar are threatened with extinction.
2023: Lychee Exports in 2023
In 2023, high-value cash crops like lychees showed growth, with 18,000 tons sold abroad, including 16,000 tons exported to Europe.
2024: Population in 2024
In 2024, the population of Madagascar was estimated at 32 million, with an annual population growth rate of approximately 2.4%.
January 2025: Food Insecurity Crisis
As of January 2025, the World Food Programme reported that 1.31 million citizens in Madagascar faced high levels of food insecurity.
2038: Ehoala port to come under state control
Around 2038, the island's newest port at Ehoala will come under state control upon completion of Rio Tinto's mining project.
