Madagascar
June 25th

“For God so loved Madagascar that he gave his one and only Son!”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16)

》 Country Profile

Continent | Africa
Population | 28.81 million
Area | 587,041㎢, The world’s fourth largest island, located southeast of the African continent.
Capital City | Antananarivo (3.87 million people)
People Groups | Total40 groups, major ethnicities include Merina (26%), Betsimisaraka (15%), Betsileo (12%), Tsimihety (7%), Sakalava (6%), Antaisaka (5%), Antandroy (5%), and others (24%).
People Groups Unreached | 11 groups (1.6% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Malagasy, French
Total Languages | 26
Bible Translations | Completed 7, New Testament 2, Partial 14
Religion | Christian 49.7% (Protestant 21%, Catholic 22%), ethnic religion 42.5%, Islam 7% Evangelical 6.1% (1.75 million people)

》 About Madagascar

Throughout the 19th century, Madagascar was ruled by the Merina people, but following the British occupation in 1811, the island became a battleground between Britain and France. In 1896, Madagascar became a French colony. It was part of the French Malagasy Republic in 1957 before gaining independence in 1960.
A coup d’état in 1972 led to the establishment of a socialist government, and in 1975, Didier Ratsiraka came to power through another coup, renaming the country the Democratic Republic of Madagascar. By 1991, economic deterioration fueled demands for democratization, leading to a constitutional change in 1992, restoring the Republic of Madagascar. Ratsiraka was re-elected in 1993 and introduced a free-market economic system, but was ousted in 2002 after massive protests and military confrontations over election fraud.
Years of political turmoil, conflict, and instability followed until Andry Rajoelina was elected president in 2018. He was re-elected in December 2023 and is currently serving his second term.

Madagascar’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, with major exports including vanilla, rice, and coffee. The country produces 80% of the world’s vanilla, making it the leading global producer. Madagascar is also renowned for its gemstones, supplying nearly half of the world’s sapphires.
Despite its natural wealth, Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with 70% of the population living below the poverty line. In recent years, efforts to develop mining and ecotourism have contributed to gradual economic recovery. The country is rich in natural resources, including titanium (7th largest reserves in the world), cobalt (9th), and nickel (12th), as well as offshore oil fields.
With its stunning natural landscapes, vast tropical coastlines, and unique biodiversity, Madagascar is home to extraordinary species such as the tiger-tailed lemur and the iconic baobab tree. However, due to lack of infrastructure, tourism contributes only about 16% of GDP, limiting its economic potential.
Madagascar’s GDP per capita is approximately $550.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Christianity in Madagascar makes up about 50% of the population, down from 53% a decade ago. This decline is primarily due to the decrease in Protestant affiliation to 21% and a drop in evangelical believers to 6%, a loss of about 5%. 90% of Christians in Madagascar still blend Christianity with strong traditional beliefs, including ancestor worship and magic. As a result, churches belonging to mainstream denominations have become spiritually stagnant, causing a gradual decline in church membership.
The government and traditional denominations are hostile toward charismatic churches, causing significant division within the Christian community. Disputes among church leaders have led to frequent denominational splits, and many churches attract poor believers with promises of prosperity. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will awaken the church in Madagascar to recognize their lack of faith, leading many to earnestly seek the Lord. Let us pray that nominal believers will truly understand and embrace the gospel, be born again, and become devoted disciples of Christ. Additionally, let us pray that pastors and church leaders will acknowledge and repent of falsehood, worldly values, jealousy, and division, and be established as holy vessels for the revival of God’s kingdom.

2. There is a great shortage of missionaries in Madagascar, particularly long-term workers who can learn the language and culture and share the gospel with love and dedication. Many missionaries have been working alongside local organizations to address chronic poverty through job training, education, healthcare, and economic development. Major mission organizations, including AIM International, the Norwegian Mission, Assemblies of God (AoG), Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI), and Loving Concern International, have been actively serving in Madagascar.

There is a strong need for discipleship training and biblical education for church leaders and church members, but the existing 20 seminaries and Bible colleges are insufficient. With over 58% of the population under 24 years old, the next generation represents Madagascar’s greatest hope. Christian organizations such as Youth With A Mission (YWAM), International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), Scripture Union (SU), and Youth for Christ (YFC) serve thousands of young people through small group meetings, camps, and discipleship programs.
Let us pray that church leaders, church members, and the next generation will be born again through faith in the gospel—that they may understand that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Let us also pray that the life of Christ will be multiplied through evangelism and missions, so that churches across Madagascar will experience revival through the Gospel.

3.The northernmost and southernmost regions of Madagascar remain the least evangelized, with many ethnic groups deeply influenced by animism and Islam and residing in geographically difficult-to-reach areas. The Antankarana people (200,000) and Yemenis (57,000) are Muslim communities in the north, while the Comorian people (37,000), also Muslim, live near the central region, close to the capital. Other Muslim groups include the Gujarati (91,000), Malay (34,000), and Swahili peoples. In the south, the Antandroy (1.25 million), Mahafaly (410,000), Tanala (1.42 million), and Antefasy (230,000) follow traditional ethnic religions, relying on shamans and magic for healing and spiritual protection.
We thank God that mission organizations such as AIM, the International Mission Board (IMB), and the Anglican Mission Board are actively engaged in reaching these unreached people groups. Because many remote areas are difficult to access, aviation ministries like MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and Helimission are being strategically used to transport missionaries and supplies.
Let us pray for the rapid translation and distribution of Bibles, Christian literature, and audio Scriptures in more local languages. Let us pray that the gospel of Jesus Christ will reach these unreached people groups, that they may be saved by faith. May the Lord send more missionaries and raise up local churches to proclaim the saving message of Christ throughout Madagascar.

》 Urgent prayer requests around the world need your prayer!