History of Madagascar in Timeline

Madagascar is an island country located off the southeastern coast of Africa. It is the fourth largest island in the world and the second-largest island country. The capital and largest city is Antananarivo.

1900: Population in 1900

In 1900, the population of Madagascar was 2.2 million.

1905: Malagasikara Name Usage

In 1905, Charles Basset noted in his doctoral thesis that the natives of Madagascar referred to the island as Malagasikara.

1927: Major 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, the colonial administration dissolved all organizations in Madagascar, opting for the Vichy regime.

1947: Insurrection and Repression

In 1947, the MDRM was accused of instigating an insurrection and faced violent repression by the colonial regime.

1947: Malagasy Uprising

In 1947, the Malagasy Uprising was triggered by the occupation of France during the Second World War, galvanizing the growing independence movement.

1956: Reformed Institutions Established

In 1956, the French established reformed institutions in Madagascar under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), leading to a peaceful transition towards independence.

October 1958: Malagasy Republic Proclaimed

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 the Malagasy Republic named Malagasy and French as the official languages.

1959: Constitution Adoption

In 1959, a constitution was adopted, marking the end of a period of provisional government.

June 1960: Independence Day

Madagascar gained its independence on 26 June 1960.

June 1960: Full Independence Achieved

On 26 June 1960, Madagascar achieved full independence.

September 1960: Membership in the United Nations

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

1960: Regaining Independence

Antananarivo remained the capital of Madagascar after regaining independence in 1960.

1960: Independence Gained

In 1960, Madagascar gained independence from France after being annexed in 1897, marking a major turning point in its history.

1960: First Republic Established

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

1963: Founding Member of the Organisation of African Unity

Madagascar has historically been perceived as being on the margin of mainstream African affairs despite being a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity, which was established in 1963.

1964: First Olympic Games

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

1972: Tsiranana's Administration Overturned

In 1972, farmer and student protests inspired by resentment over President Tsiranana's tolerance for "neo-colonial" arrangements led to the overturning of his administration.

1973: Oil Crisis Impact

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

1975: Political Instability

In 1975, Gabriel Ramanantsoa stepped down due to low public approval, and Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava was assassinated six days into his tenure, leading to General Gilles Andriamahazo briefly ruling before being replaced by Didier Ratsiraka.

1975: Ratsiraka's Rule

In 1975, Ratsiraka came into power and remained in power until 2001.

1975: General Census

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

1976: Comoran Exodus

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

1976: Mandatory National Service

Under the socialist Second Republic, Admiral Didier Ratsiraka instated mandatory national armed or civil service for all young citizens regardless of sex, a policy that remained in effect from 1976 to 1991.

1979: Economic Bankruptcy

By 1979, Madagascar had become completely bankrupt due to various economic factors and policies.

1990: Fertility Rate

In 1990, the Malagasy fertility rate was 6.3 children per woman.

1991: Shooting of Protesters

In 1991, presidential guards opened fire on unarmed protesters during a rally, marking a critical point in Ratsiraka's dwindling popularity.

1991: End of Mandatory National Service

The mandatory national armed or civil service policy, instated in 1976, remained in effect until 1991.

1992: Albert Zafy's Presidency

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

1992: Presidential Elections and Third Republic

In 1992, Albert Zafy won the presidential elections and inaugurated the Third Republic (1992–2010).

1992: Constitutional Democracy Established

In 1992, Madagascar was governed as a constitutional democracy, marking the beginning of another major constitutional period for the country.

1992: Constitution of 1992

In 1992, no official languages were mentioned in the Constitution of Madagascar, although Malagasy was identified as the national language.

1993: National Census on Religion

According to the most recent national census completed in 1993, 52 percent of the population adhered to indigenous beliefs, with Christianity at 41 percent and Islam at 7 percent.

1993: End of Second Republic

Didier Ratsiraka's tenure as the leader of the Marxist–Leninist Second Republic ended in 1993.

1993: Albert Zafy's Presidency

In 1993, Albert Zafy (1993–96) assumed the presidency, marking the start of his term.

1993: General Census

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

1996: Increased Educational Access

By 1996, there was increased educational access.

1996: End of Albert Zafy's Presidency

In 1996, Albert Zafy's brief presidency of Madagascar ended.

1996: Zafy's Impeachment and Ratsiraka's Return

In 1996, President Zafy was impeached, and Norbert Ratsirahonana served as interim president before Didier Ratsiraka was voted back into power.

April 2000: Legal Case Against the State

In April 2000, a citizen initiated a legal case against the state, arguing that publishing official documents only in French was unconstitutional, as there was no language law.

2000: Early Human Visits

Around 2000 BCE, Madagascar was visited by foragers, as evidenced by archaeological finds, including cut marks on bones and stone tools.

2000: Lemur Species Discovered

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

2000: Ban on Precious Timber Collection

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

2001: Military Neutrality

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: End of Ratsiraka's Rule

In 2001, Ratsiraka's rule, which began in 1975, came to an end.

2001: Contested Presidential Elections

In 2001, the contested presidential elections saw Marc Ravalomanana eventually emerge victorious.

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.

2001: Post-Election Standoff

The eight-month standoff between incumbent Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana following the 2001 presidential elections 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.

2002: Political Standoff

In 2002, a seven-month standoff occurred between supporters of Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka due to the contested election results.

2002: Education Prioritized Under Ravalomanana

In 2002, under the Ravalomanana administration, education was prioritized, becoming free and compulsory for ages 6 to 13.

2002: Dissolution of the Organisation of African Unity

The Organisation of African Unity, of which Madagascar was a founding member, was dissolved in 2002 to be replaced by the African Union.

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

In May 2003, the Madagascar-U.S. Business Council was established as a collaboration between USAID and Malagasy artisan producers to support the export of local handicrafts to foreign markets.

July 2003: Rejoining the African Union

Madagascar rejoined the African Union in July 2003 after a 14-month hiatus. Madagascar was not permitted to attend the first African Union summit because of a dispute over the results of the 2001 presidential election.

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

2004: Cyclone Gafilo

In 2004, Cyclone Gafilo, the strongest cyclone ever recorded to hit Madagascar, caused extensive damage and loss of life.

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, although high-level officials have not been prosecuted by the bureau.

2006: Increased Educational Access

By 2006, as a result of increased educational access, enrollment rates more than doubled compared to 1996.

2007: Rainforests of the Atsinanana Declared World Heritage Site

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

2007: Constitution of 2007

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

2008: Tourist arrivals

An estimated 365,000 tourists visited Madagascar in 2008.

2008: Lemur Species Discovered

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

2008: Government Spending on Health Sector

In 2008, fifteen percent of government spending in Madagascar was directed toward the health sector.

2008: Zafimaniry Woodworking on UNESCO List

In 2008, the decorative and functional woodworking traditions of the Zafimaniry people of the central highlands were 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 Collection

In January 2009, the collection of small quantities of precious timber from national parks, which had been banned by then-President Marc Ravalomanana from 2000 to 2009, was re-authorized. This practice dramatically intensified under the administration of Andry Rajoelina as 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.

March 2009: Suspension by the African Union

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

2009: Protests Led by Andry Rajoelina

A series of protests led by Andry Rajoelina against Ravalomanana in early 2009 became violent, with more than 170 people killed.

2009: Dire consequences for the island's wildlife.

According to a July 2012 assessment, since 2009 the exploitation of natural resources has had dire consequences for the island's wildlife.

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: Impact of Budget Cuts on Police Force

Budget cuts since 2009 have severely impacted the national police force, producing a steep increase in criminal activity in recent years.

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, initiating a lengthy transition toward its fourth republic.

2009: Army Defection

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 as Percentage of GDP

In 2009, exports formed 28 percent of Madagascar's GDP, with revenue mainly from textiles, fish, shellfish, vanilla, and cloves.

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: Media Censorship Accusations

Since 2009, accusations of media censorship have increased in Madagascar, due to alleged intensification of restrictions on political criticism.

2010: Healthcare Resources

In 2010, Madagascar had an average of three hospital beds per 10,000 people, 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: Constitution of 2010

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

2010: Fourth Republic Established

In 2010, a new constitution was adopted by referendum, establishing a Fourth Republic.

2010: Maternal Mortality Rate

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

2010: Decline in Tourism

In 2010, tourism in Madagascar declined during the political crisis, with 180,000 tourists visiting.

2010: End of the Third Republic

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

December 2011: Internet Access

In December 2011, an estimated 352,000 residents of Madagascar accessed the internet from home or internet cafés.

2011: Protected Areas 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: Agriculture Sector Contribution

In 2011, the agriculture sector constituted 29 percent of Malagasy GDP, while manufacturing formed 15 percent of GDP.

2011: Scouting Membership

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

2011: Teen Pregnancy Rate

In 2011, the teen pregnancy rate in Madagascar was 14.8 percent, much higher than the African average.

2011: Economic Growth

Since 2011, Madagascar's economy has experienced growth, with GDP growth exceeding 4% per year.

July 2012: Assessment of Wildlife Exploitation

A July 2012 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, the highest proportion of any mammalian group. Of these, 23 species were classified as critically endangered.

2012: Lemurs as Flagship Species

As of 2012, lemurs have been characterized as "Madagascar's flagship mammal species" by Conservation International.

2012: GDP Per Capita Growth

Since 2012, the GDP per capita in 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: Constitutional Governance Restored

In January 2014, constitutional governance was restored in Madagascar, marking the end of a protracted transition towards the fourth and current republic, which followed a political crisis and military coup in 2009.

2014: Discovery of the Asian Common Toad

Following the 2014 discovery in Madagascar of the Asian common toad, researchers warned the toad could "wreak havoc on the country's unique fauna." The toad is a relative of a species that has severely harmed wildlife in Australia since the 1930s.

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, with 263 confirmed cases and 71 deaths.

2014: Public Expenditure on Education

In 2014, public expenditure on education was 2.8 percent of GDP.

2015: FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women

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

2015: Madagascar's GDP

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

2015: Madagascar Country Programme

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.

2015: Tourism Growth

Tourism has been growing steadily for a few years. In 2016, 293,000 tourists landed in the African island with an increase of 20% compared to 2015.

2016: Expected 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 Conversions

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 landed in Madagascar, reflecting an increase of 20% compared to 2015.

2016: Unemployment Rate

In 2016, the unemployment rate in Madagascar was 2.1%.

2016: Road Construction Project

Since 2016, €100.4 million has been paid to the Republic of Madagascar for a project meant to create 348 kilometres of roads and improve connections, funded by the European Union and the European Investment Bank.

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: Tourism Target

For 2017, the country has the goal of reaching 366,000 visitors.

2017: Poverty and Malnutrition Statistics

In 2017, 92% of Madagascar's population was affected by poverty. The country ranked fourth in the world in terms of chronic malnutrition, with nearly one in two children under five being stunted. Also, twelve million people did not have access to clean water, according to WaterAid.

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: Economic Indicators

In 2017, almost all economic indicators in Madagascar were growing. The GDP per capita was around $1600 (PPP), and the workforce consisted of 13.4 million people.

2017: Capital's Population Estimate

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

2018: Government Tourism Estimate

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

2018: Poverty in Madagascar

In 2018, Madagascar remained a very poor country, with structural issues such as corruption, public administration challenges, lack of legal certainty, and outdated land legislation hindering economic development.

2018: Presidential Election

In 2018, the first and second rounds of the presidential election were held on November 7 and December 10, respectively.

2018: Undernourishment and Hunger Rates

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

January 2019: Rajoelina Declared President

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

June 2019: Rajoelina Wins Parliamentary Elections

In June 2019, Rajoelina's party won an absolute majority of the seats in the National Assembly, securing 84 seats.

2019: Measles Outbreak

In 2019, Madagascar had a measles outbreak, which led to 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: Pew Research Center 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

In 2020, Muslims constituted 2% of the population of Madagascar, largely concentrated in the northwestern provinces of Mahajanga and Antsiranana.

2021: Multidimensional Poverty

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

2021: High Poverty Rate

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

2021: Start of Famine

Mid-2021 marked the beginning of the 2021–2022 Madagascar famine, caused by a severe drought that led to widespread food insecurity.

January 2022: Internet Access

By January 2022, 22.3 percent of Madagascar's population (6.43 million people) had internet access, mostly through mobile phones.

February 2022: Cyclone Batsirai

In February 2022, Cyclone Batsirai killed 121 people in Madagascar.

December 2022: Antananarivo-Toamasina Toll Highway Construction

In December 2022, construction began on the Antananarivo–Toamasina toll highway, Madagascar's first toll highway, connecting the capital to its largest seaport; the infrastructure project is expected to take four years to complete.

2022: High Climate Change Adaptation Costs

In 2022, an analysis found that the expected costs for Madagascar to adapt to and avert the environmental consequences of climate change are going to be high.

2022: Continuation of Famine

The 2021-2022 Madagascar famine continued into 2022, causing widespread food insecurity.

November 2023: Rajoelina Re-elected Amid 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 controversy about his citizenship.

2023: Study on Mammal 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, Madagascar exported 18,000 tons of lychees, including 16,000 tons to Europe, marking a growth area for high-value cash crops.

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 in Madagascar faced high levels of food insecurity, and over 90% of the population lived on less than $3.10 per day.

2038: Ehoala Port State Control

Around 2038, the Ehoala port, constructed in 2008 and managed by Rio Tinto, is expected to come under state control upon completion of the company's mining project near Tôlanaro.