History of Madagascar in Timeline

Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country located off the southeastern coast of Africa. It is the world's fourth-largest island and the second-largest island country. Its capital and largest city is Antananarivo. Madagascar's unique biodiversity and isolated location have resulted in many unique plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth.

1900: Population Size

In 1900, the population of Madagascar was 2.2 million.

1905: Charles Basset on Malagasikara

In 1905, Charles Basset wrote in his doctoral thesis that Malagasikara was the way the island is referred to by its natives, who emphasized that they were Malagasy, and not Madagasy.

1927: Major Demonstrations in Antananarivo

In 1927, major demonstrations were organized in Antananarivo, notably on the initiative of the communist activist François Vittori.

1939: Dissolution of Organizations

In 1939, all organizations were dissolved by the administration of the colony, which opted for the Vichy regime.

1947: Insurrection and Repression

In 1947, the MDRM was accused by the colonial regime of being at the origin of the insurrection and was pursued by violent repression.

1947: Malagasy Uprising

The Malagasy Uprising of 1947 was galvanized by the occupation of France during the Second World War, which tarnished the prestige of the colonial administration.

1956: Reformed Institutions

In 1956, the French established reformed institutions in Madagascar under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), leading the country 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, the European population in Madagascar was 68,430.

1958: Official Languages

In 1958, the first national Constitution of Madagascar named Malagasy and French as the official languages of the Malagasy Republic.

1959: Adoption of a Constitution

In 1959, a constitution was adopted in Madagascar, which preceded the country's full independence on 26 June 1960.

June 1960: Full Independence

On 26 June 1960, Madagascar achieved full independence following a period of provisional government and the adoption of a constitution in 1959.

June 1960: Madagascar gains independence

On 26 June 1960, Madagascar gained its independence.

September 1960: Madagascar joins the United Nations

On 20 September 1960, Madagascar became a member state of the United Nations, shortly after gaining its independence on 26 June 1960.

1960: Independence from France

In 1960, Madagascar gained independence from France after being annexed in 1897, marking a significant shift in the island's political landscape.

1960: Antananarivo remains the capital

In 1960, after Madagascar regained independence, Antananarivo remained the capital of Madagascar.

1960: First Republic Begins

In 1960, the First Republic began in Madagascar under President Philibert Tsiranana, characterized by strong ties to France.

1960: Restoration of political independence

In 1960, with independence from France the political independence and sovereignty of the Malagasy armed forces, which comprises an army, navy and air force, was restored.

1960: Madagascar gains independence from France

Since Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960, the island's political transitions have been marked by numerous popular protests, several disputed elections, an impeachment, two military coups and one assassination.

1963: Establishment of the Organisation of African Unity

In 1963, the Organisation of African Unity, was established with Madagascar as a founding member.

1964: Madagascar at the Olympic Games

In 1964, Madagascar sent its first competitors to the Olympic Games.

1972: Overthrow of Tsiranana's Administration

In 1972, popular resentment over Tsiranana's tolerance for "neo-colonial" arrangements inspired protests that overturned his administration.

1973: Oil Crisis Impact

In 1973, the oil crisis created economic pressures that led to the rapid collapse of Madagascar's economy.

1975: Political Instability and Change in Leadership

In 1975, Gabriel Ramanantsoa stepped down, and Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava was assassinated six days into his tenure, leading to General Gilles Andriamahazo's rule.

1975: Ratsiraka remains in power

In 1975, Ratsiraka remained in power and failed to achieve significant improvements in education throughout his tenure until 2001.

1975: General Census

In 1975, one of two general censuses was carried out in Madagascar after independence.

1976: Comoran Exodus

In 1976, there was an exodus of Comorans from Madagascar following anti-Comoran riots in Mahajanga.

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, leading the Ratsiraka administration to accept conditions from international financial institutions in exchange for a bailout.

1990: Fertility and Mortality Rates

In 1990, the fertility rate in Madagascar was 6.3 children per woman, and the maternal mortality rate was 484.4 per 100,000 births.

1991: Shooting of Protesters

In 1991, presidential guards opened fire on unarmed protesters during a rally, leading to a transitional government.

1991: End of mandatory national service

In 1991, the policy of mandatory national armed or civil service ended.

1992: Albert Zafy's presidency

In 1992, Albert Zafy began his brief presidency, which lasted until 1996.

1992: Inauguration of the Third Republic

In 1992, Albert Zafy won the presidential elections and inaugurated the Third Republic, establishing a multi-party democracy.

1992: Constitution

No official languages were mentioned in the Constitution of 1992. However, Malagasy was identified as the national language.

1993: National Census Results

According to the most recent national census completed in 1993, 52 percent of the population in Madagascar adhered to indigenous beliefs, with Christianity being the largest single religion at 41 percent, followed by Islam at 7 percent.

1993: Albert Zafy's Presidency Begins

In 1993, Albert Zafy began his presidency after winning the 1992 elections, inaugurating the Third Republic.

1993: General Census

In 1993, one of two general censuses was carried out in Madagascar after independence.

1993: End of Ratsiraka's Second Republic

In 1993, the Marxist-Leninist Second Republic, led by Didier Ratsiraka, came to an end after running since 1975.

1996: Increased educational access

As a result of increased educational access, enrollment rates more than doubled between 1996 and 2006.

1996: End of Albert Zafy's presidency

In 1996, Albert Zafy's brief presidency came to an end.

1996: Impeachment of Zafy and Ratsiraka's Return

In 1996, Zafy was impeached, and Ratsiraka was voted back into power for a second term.

April 2000: Legal Case Regarding Official Language

In April 2000, a citizen initiated a legal case against the state, arguing that the publication of official documents only in French was unconstitutional, given that Malagasy was identified as the national language in the Constitution of 1992.

2000: Possible Visits by Foragers

Archaeological finds indicate that Madagascar was visited by foragers around 2000 BCE, with cut marks on bones and stone tools discovered.

2000: Description of Lemur Species

Between 2000 and 2008, zoologists described 39 species of lemur.

2000: Ban on precious timber harvesting

From 2000 to 2009, then-President Marc Ravalomanana banned the collection of small quantities of precious timber from national parks.

2001: Military neutrality during political standoff

During the protracted standoff between incumbent Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana in the disputed 2001 presidential elections, the military refused to intervene in favor of either candidate.

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 as well as damage to infrastructure, such as bombed bridges and buildings damaged by arson.

2001: End of Ratsiraka's power

In 2001, Ratsiraka's power ended after having failed to achieve significant improvements in education throughout his tenure since 1975.

2001: Ratsiraka's Second Term Ends

In 2001, Ratsiraka's second term ended.

2001: Contested Presidential Elections

In 2001, the contested presidential elections, in which Marc Ravalomanana eventually emerged victorious, caused a seven-month standoff.

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: Education prioritized under Ravalomanana administration

In 2002, education was prioritized under the Ravalomanana administration, and is currently free and compulsory from ages 6 to 13.

2002: Dissolution of the Organisation of African Unity

In 2002, the Organisation of African Unity was dissolved to be replaced by the African Union.

2002: Political Standoff

In 2002, there was a seven-month standoff between supporters of Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka due to the contested 2001 elections.

May 2003: Madagascar-U.S. Business Council Formation

In May 2003, the Madagascar-U.S. Business Council was formed as 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

After a 14-month hiatus, Madagascar rejoined the African Union in July 2003.

2003: Announcement of 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 (23,000 sq mi) or 10 percent of Madagascar's land surface.

2004: Cyclone Gafilo Damage

In 2004, Cyclone Gafilo became the strongest cyclone ever recorded to hit Madagascar. The storm killed 172 people, left 214,260 homeless and caused more than US$250 million in damage.

2004: Creation of BIANCO

In 2004, Ravalomanana created BIANCO, an anti-corruption bureau, which resulted in reduced corruption among Antananarivo's lower-level bureaucrats in particular.

2006: Increased educational access

As a result of increased educational access, enrollment rates more than doubled between 1996 and 2006.

2007: Rainforests of the Atsinanana declared a World Heritage Site

In 2007, six of the national parks - Marojejy, Masoala, Ranomafana, Zahamena, Andohahela and Andringitra - were declared a joint World Heritage Site under the name Rainforests of the Atsinanana.

2007: Recognition of Official Languages

The Constitution of 2007 recognized three official languages in Madagascar: Malagasy, French, and English.

2008: Tourist Visited

An estimated 365,000 tourists visited Madagascar in 2008.

2008: Description of Lemur Species

Between 2000 and 2008, zoologists described 39 species of lemur.

2008: Government Spending on Health

Fifteen percent of government spending in Madagascar in 2008 was directed toward the health sector.

2008: Zafimaniry woodworking traditions inscribed on UNESCO list

In 2008, the decorative and functional woodworking traditions of the Zafimaniry people of the central highlands was inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

2008: Ehoala Port Construction

In 2008, the island's newest port at Ehoala was constructed and privately managed by Rio Tinto.

2008: Maternal Mortality Rate

In 2008, the maternal mortality rate in Madagascar was 373.1 per 100,000 births.

January 2009: Re-authorization of precious timber harvesting

In January 2009, the collection of small quantities of precious timber from national parks, which was banned by then-President Marc Ravalomanana from 2000 to 2009, was re-authorized and dramatically intensified under the administration of Andry Rajoelina. This was a key source of state revenues to offset cuts in donor support following Ravalomanana's ousting.

March 2009: Rajoelina Declared President

In March 2009, Andry Rajoelina was declared by the Supreme Court as the President of the High Transitional Authority after Ravalomanana was pushed from power in an unconstitutional process.

March 2009: Suspension by the African Union

In March 2009, Madagascar was suspended by the African Union following the unconstitutional transfer of executive power to Rajoelina.

2009: Increased Media Censorship

Accusations of media censorship in Madagascar have increased since 2009 due to alleged restrictions on political criticism.

2009: Access to Utilities

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: FIBA Africa Championship for Women

In 2009, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Championship for Women.

2009: Political Crisis and Military Coup

In 2009, Madagascar experienced a political crisis and military coup, leading to a protracted transition towards its fourth republic.

2009: Army defection during political crisis

In 2009, a segment of the army defected to the side of Andry Rajoelina, then-mayor of Antananarivo, in support of his attempt to force President Ravalomanana from power.

2009: Exports Percentage of GDP

In 2009, exports accounted for 28 percent of Madagascar's GDP, primarily from the textiles industry, fish and shellfish, vanilla, cloves, and other foodstuffs.

2009: Limited access to security forces

In 2009, fewer than a third of all communes had access to the services of the national police force and gendarmerie, with most lacking local-level headquarters for either corps.

2009: Fertility Rate and Life Expectancy

In 2009, the Malagasy fertility rate was 4.6 children per woman, and the adult life expectancy was 63 years for men and 67 years for women.

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: Dire consequences for the island's wildlife

Since 2009, the exploitation of natural resources has had dire consequences for the island's wildlife.

2010: Healthcare Statistics

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: Road and Railway Infrastructure

In 2010, Madagascar had approximately 7,617 km of paved roads, 854 km of railways, and 432 km of navigable waterways.

2010: Official Languages

In 2010, a new Constitution was adopted in Madagascar following a referendum, recognizing only Malagasy and French as official languages.

2010: Adoption of a New Constitution

In 2010, a new constitution was adopted by referendum, establishing a Fourth Republic and sustaining the democratic structure.

2010: Maternal Mortality Rate

In 2010, the maternal mortality rate in Madagascar was 440 per 100,000 births.

2010: End of the Third Republic

The Third Republic (1992-2010) came to an end.

2010: Tourism sector declined

The tourism sector declined during the political crisis with 180,000 tourists visiting in 2010.

December 2011: Internet Access

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 (Réserves Naturelles Intégrales), 21 Wildlife Reserves (Réserves Spéciales) and 21 National Parks (Parcs Nationaux).

2011: FIBA Africa Championship

In 2011, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Championship.

2011: Scouting membership

In 2011, scouting membership in Madagascar was estimated at 14,905.

2011: Teen Pregnancy and Infant Mortality

In 2011, teen pregnancy rates in Madagascar were 14.8 percent, and the infant mortality rate was 41 per 1,000 births.

2011: Agriculture sector constituted 29 percent of GDP

In 2011, the agriculture sector constituted 29 percent of Malagasy GDP.

2011: Economic Growth

Since 2011, the economy of Madagascar has been growing, with the 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. It was found that 90 percent of lemur species were threatened with extinction, the highest proportion of any mammalian group, and that 23 species were classified as critically endangered.

2012: Lemur Species Count

As of 2012, there were officially 103 species and subspecies of lemur.

2012: GDP per capita growth

Since 2012, the GDP per capita of Madagascar has been growing.

2013: FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship

In 2013, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship.

2013: Rajaonarimampianina Wins Election

In 2013, Hery Rajaonarimampianina was declared the winner of the presidential election, deemed fair and transparent by the international community.

January 2014: Restoration of Constitutional Governance

In January 2014, constitutional governance was restored in Madagascar, marking the end of a protracted transition following the 2009 political crisis and military coup.

2014: FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship

In 2014, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship.

2014: Bubonic and pneumonic plague outbreak

In 2014, Madagascar experienced outbreaks of the bubonic plague and pneumonic plague, resulting in 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 Asian common toad

In 2014, the Asian common toad was discovered in Madagascar. Researchers warned that this toad, a relative of a species that has severely harmed wildlife in Australia since the 1930s, could "wreak havoc on the country's unique fauna."

2015: FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women

In 2015, Antananarivo hosted the FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women.

2015: Estimate of Madagascar's GDP

In 2015, Madagascar's GDP was estimated at US$9.98 billion, with a per capita GDP of $411.82.

2015: Tourism Increased

In 2015, the number of tourist increase 20% compared to 2016, 293,000 tourists landed in the African island.

2015: Madagascar Country Programme started

Starting in 2015, under the direction of and with assistance from the UN, 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: Average growth rate

During 2011–15, the average growth rate was 2.6% but was expected to have reached 4.1% in 2016, due to public works programs and a growth of the service sector.

2016: Jewish Community Conversion

In 2016, 121 members of the Malagasy Jewish community were formally converted to Orthodox Judaism.

2016: Tourism Increased

In 2016, 293,000 tourists landed in the African island with an increase of 20% compared to 2015.

2016: Road Project

Since 2016, €100.4 million has been paid to the Republic of Madagascar through a project meant to create 348 kilometres (216 mi) of roads and create better connections.

January 2017: Police officers deployed in Haiti

As of January 2017, 34 police officers from Madagascar are deployed in Haiti as part of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti.

2017: Increase in visitors for the country

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, and the country ranked fourth globally in chronic malnutrition. A significant portion of children under five were stunted, and access to clean water remained a major challenge.

2017: Bubonic and pneumonic plague outbreak

In 2017, Madagascar experienced outbreaks of the bubonic plague and pneumonic plague, resulting in 2575 cases and 221 deaths.

2017: GDP per capita and Workforce

In 2017, Madagascar's GDP per capita was around $1600 (PPP), and the workforce consisted of 13.4 million people.

2017: Top Exports

In 2017, Madagascar's top exports were vanilla (US$894M), nickel metal (US$414M), cloves (US$288M), knitted sweaters (US$184M) and cobalt (US$143M).

2017: Population of Antananarivo estimated

In 2017, the capital's population was estimated at 1,391,433 inhabitants.

2018: Expected tourists number

For 2018 government estimates are expected to reach 500,000 annual tourists.

2018: Presidential Election Rounds

In 2018 the first round of the presidential election was held on 7 November and the second round was held on 10 December, with three former presidents and the most recent president as the main candidates.

2018: Island's Poverty

In 2018, Madagascar remained a very poor country, facing structural issues like corruption, public administration challenges, lack of legal certainty, and outdated land legislation.

2018: Undernourishment and hunger rates

In 2018, undernourishment and hunger rates in Madagascar were at 42%.

January 2019: Rajoelina Declared Winner

In January 2019, the High Constitutional Court declared Rajoelina as the winner of the 2018 elections and the new president.

June 2019: Rajoelina's Win in Parliamentary Elections

In June 2019 parliamentary elections the Rajoelina's won absolute majority of the seats of the National Assembly with 84 seats.

2019: Measles outbreak

In 2019, Madagascar had a measles outbreak, resulting in 118,000 cases and 1,688 deaths.

2019: African Games

In 2019, Madagascar's national 3x3 basketball team won the gold medal at the African Games.

2020: Religion Statistics

According to the Pew Research Center in 2020, 85% of the population of Madagascar identified as Christian, while just 4.5% exclusively practiced folk religions.

2020: COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, Madagascar was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Muslim population percentage

In 2020, Muslims constituted 2% of the population of Madagascar.

2021: Percentage of population multidimensionally poor

According to the United Nations Development Programme, as of 2021, 68.4 percent of the population is multidimensionally poor.

2021: High Rate of Multidimensional Poverty

As of 2021, 68.4 percent of the population in Madagascar was considered to be multidimensionally poor.

2021: Beginning of Famine

Mid-2021 marked the beginning of the 2021–2022 Madagascar famine which, due to a severe drought, caused hundreds of thousands of people to face food insecurity and over one million people were on the verge of a famine.

January 2022: Internet Access

In January 2022, 22.3 percent of the population (6.43 million people) in Madagascar had internet access, mostly through mobile phones.

February 2022: Cyclone Batsirai

In February 2022, Cyclone Batsirai killed 121 people.

December 2022: Highway Construction Begins

In December 2022, construction began on the Antananarivo–Toamasina toll highway, Madagascar's first toll highway, expected to take four years to complete.

2022: Cost of Climate Change Adaptation

A 2022 analysis found that Madagascar will have to spend 15% of its GDP to adapt to and avert the environmental consequences of climate change.

2022: Continuation of Famine

November 2023: Rajoelina Re-elected Amidst Controversy

In November 2023, Rajoelina was re-elected to another term with 58.95% of the vote in the first round of the election amidst an opposition boycott and a controversy about his acquisition of French citizenship and subsequent eligibility.

2023: Threat to mammal species

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, high-value cash crops like lychees were a growth area, with 18,000 tons sold abroad, including 16,000 tons exported to Europe.

2024: Population Estimate

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, according to the World Food Programme, 1.31 million citizens faced high levels of food insecurity. More than 90% of its 28 million people lived on less than $3.10 per day.