PEOPLE
Madagascar's
population is predominantly of mixed Asian and African origin.
Recent research suggests that the island was uninhabited until
Indonesian seafarers arrived in roughly the first century A.D.,
probably by way of southern India and East Africa, where they
acquired African wives and slaves. Subsequent migrations from
both the Pacific and Africa further consolidated this original
mixture, and 18 separate tribal groups emerged. Asian features
are most predominant in the central highlands people, the Merina
(3 million) and the Betsileo (2 million); the coastal people are
of more clearly African origin.
The largest
coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1.5 million) and the Tsimihety
and Sakalava (700,000 each).
The Malagasy
language is of Malayo-Polynesian origin and is generally spoken
throughout the island. French is spoken among the educated population
of this former French colony. English is becoming more widely
spoken and in 2003 the government began a pilot project of introducing
the teaching of English into the primary grades of 44 schools,
with hopes of taking the project nationwide.
Most people
practice traditional religions, which 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.
The Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or "turning
over the dead" celebrate this spiritual communion. 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.
About
45% of the Malagasy are Christian, divided almost evenly between
Roman Catholic and Protestant. Many incorporate the cult of the
dead with their 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. While many Christians
continue these practices, others consider them to be superstitions
that should be abandoned. Many of the Christian churches are influential
in politics. In the coastal regions of the provinces of Mahajanga
and Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Muslims constitute a significant
minority. Muslims are divided between those of Malagasy ethnicity,
Indo-Pakistanis, and Comorians.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Malagasy.
Population (2005, World Bank estimate):18,600,000.
Annual population growth rate (2005, World Bank): 2.7%.
Ethnic groups: 18 Malagasy tribes; small groups of Comorans, French, Indians, and Chinese.
Religions: Traditional beliefs 47%, Christian 45%, Muslim 7%.
Languages: Malagasy (official), French.
Education: Years compulsory--5. Attendance--65%. Literacy--70.7%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--76/1,000. Life expectancy--55.6 yrs.
Work force (2000): 8 million. Agriculture--80%; industry--7%.
