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Madagascar

MG

East Africa

Madagascar is home to 8 documented ethnic groups in East Africa — led by Merina (~26%), Madagascar Other (~24%), Betsimisaraka (~15%), Betsileo (~12%). This page blends their phenotype and demographic data into one weighted reference: skin tone, facial features, hair texture and build, drawn from published census and ancestry sources.

Demographic Composition

Composition weights are derived from self-identification in published census and demographic surveys. Each row links to the source ethnic-group atlas page.

Ethnic groupWeightSource
MerinaMerina26.0%Madagascar 2018 Census plus subsequent estimates; Merina (~26%, ~7.6M+ of ~29M+ total). Highland Malagasy population. The Merina are the largest of the 18+ Malagasy ethnic sub-groups, historically dominant from the highland Imerina kingdom
Madagascar OtherMadagascar Other23.6%Madagascar 2018 Census residual; includes Antemoro, Antefasy, Bara, Bezanozano, Antanosy, Antakarana, Mahafaly, Sihanaka, plus Merina-Indian (Karana), Comorian-Malagasy, plus French-Malagasy, Chinese-Malagasy smaller groups
BetsimisarakaBetsimisaraka15.0%Madagascar 2018 Census; Betsimisaraka (~15%); coastal Malagasy population, predominantly eastern Madagascar
BetsileoBetsileo12.0%Madagascar 2018 Census; Betsileo (~12%); highland Malagasy
TsimihetyTsimihety7.2%Madagascar 2018 Census; Tsimihety (~7.2%)
SakalavaSakalava6.2%Madagascar 2018 Census; Sakalava (~6.2%); coastal Malagasy population, predominantly western Madagascar
AntaisakaAntaisaka5.0%Madagascar 2018 Census; Antaisaka (~5%)
AntandroyAntandroy5.0%Madagascar 2018 Census; Antandroy (~5%); semi-arid southern Madagascar

Madagascar Phenotype Profile

Madagascar has a remarkably distinctive demographic profile globally — the Malagasy population shows approximately 60% Austronesian (Indonesian / Borneo source) ancestry plus 40% Bantu (East African source) ancestry, reflecting Austronesian seafaring colonization approximately 1,000-2,000 years ago plus subsequent East African Bantu admixture. The country's 18+ Malagasy ethnic sub-groups represent regional variations of this Austronesian-Bantu demographic substrate.

A descriptive view, not a claim about individuals

This page shows a weighted aggregate of phenotype observations across the Madagascar population, based on demographic composition from published census and ancestry sources. Phenotypes within any country are far more varied than the aggregate suggests; this is a descriptive reference, not a deterministic claim about any individual. For source-level detail on individual ethnic groups, see the constituent atlas pages linked below.

Methodology Notes

Composition weights derived from Madagascar 2018 Census plus subsequent estimates.

See full project methodology →

Primary Sources

  1. 1.Institut National de la Statistique Madagascar. RGPH3 2018. Antananarivo: INSTAT; 2020.
  2. 2.Pierron D, Heiske M, Razafindrazaka H, et al. Genomic landscape of human diversity across Madagascar. PNAS. 2017;114(32):E6498-E6506.
  3. 3.Brown M. A History of Madagascar. Markus Wiener; 1995.
  4. 4.Allen PM, Covell M. Historical Dictionary of Madagascar. 2nd ed. Scarecrow; 2005.
  5. 5.Razafindrazaka H, Ricaut FX, Cox MP, et al. Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences provide new insights into the Polynesian motif and the peopling of Madagascar. Eur J Hum Genet. 2010;18(5):575-581.

Other countries in East Africa

Aggregate phenotype references for neighbouring East Africa nations, weighted by demographic composition.

Browse all East Africaethnic groups & countries →