Madagascar

MADAGASCAR

A. THE COUNTRY

The Republic of Madagascar is an African island country in the Indian
Ocean, off the coast of Mozambique.  A great degree of Flora and fauna
is unique to this country.  In 2009, the capital’s mayor seized the
presidency with military backing, while unsupported by international
entities.  Madagascar has continued democratic fragility and
vulnerability to military intervention.  Corruption has long been a
major problem.  Agriculture, fishing and forestry were the primary means
of living for most people, but slash-and-burn farming has destroyed vast
areas of forest and caused serious erosion.  The service sector is now
very important.  Frequent cyclones, lack of clean water and sanitation,
and a lack of infrastructure and foreign investment limit progress.

B. THE PEOPLE

The population is ~21,000,000 and official languages Official Malagasy,
French and English.  There is widespread poverty.  ~97.5% are Malagasy,
~2.5% Other (French, Reunionese, Gujarati, Chinese, Arab).

C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM

The power of the old Malagasy folk religion remains pervasive, including
among those who claim to be Christian.  The four mainline churches have
great influence.  The government and traditional churches are suspicious
of the emergence of younger more charismatic groups.
~53.53% claim to be Christian, ~37.65% Ethnoreligionist, ~8% Muslim,
~0.24% Non-religious, ~0.23% Other, ~0.15% Hindu, ~0.1% Chinese, ~0.1%
Baha’i.  In the Christian category:
~31.52% are Protestant, ~23.13% Catholic, ~5.97% Independent, ~1.86%
Anglican, ~0.3% Unaffiliated, ~0.1% Orthodox.
Evangelicals represent ~11.5% of the population.
Charismatics represent ~4.1% and of those ~2.1% are Pentecostals.
Donna Siemens

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org

Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.