Editing Demographics of Madagascar (section)

==Religion==
[[File:Antsirabe - église.JPG|thumb|right|[[Roman Catholic]] cathedral in [[Antsirabe]].]]
{{further|Malagasy mythology}}
{{see also |Madagascar#Religion|Christianity in Madagascar|Islam in Madagascar|Hinduism in Madagascar|Bahá'í Faith in Madagascar|History of the Jews in Madagascar}}
{{Pie chart
| thumb = left
| caption = Religion in Madagascar (2020) according to the [[Pew Research Center]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/madagascar/religious_demography|title = Religions in Madagascar &#124; PEW-GRF}}</ref>
| label1 = [[Christian]]
| value1 = 85.4
| color1 = Blue
| label3 = [[Muslim]]
| value3 = 3
| color3 = Green
| label2 = [[Animism|Folk religions]]
| value2 = 4.6
| color2 = Beige
| label4 = Unaffiliated/Other
| value4 = 7
| color4 = Grey
}}

According to the 1993 national census, 41% of Malagasies practised Christianity and 52% practise traditional religion,<ref name=BGNote>{{cite web |last = Bureau of African Affairs |title = Background Note: Madagascar |publisher = U.S. Department of State |date = 3 May 2011 |url = https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5460.htm |access-date =24 August 2011}}</ref> which tends to emphasize links between the living and the ''razana'' (ancestors); by 2020, only 4.5% of Malagasies exclusively practised folk religions and 85% were [[Christianity in Madagascar|Christian]] (according to the [[Pew Research Center]]).<ref name=pew>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/madagascar#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2015 |title=Religions in Madagascar &#124; PEW-GRF |publisher=Globalreligiousfutures.org |access-date=20 September 2017 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109064122/http://globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/madagascar#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] noted that in 2020, 58.1% of the population is [[Christian]], 2.1% is [[Muslim]] and 39.2% practices traditional faiths, while 0.6% of the population is [[Irreligious|non-religious]] or adheres to other faiths.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=137c | title= ARDA website, 2023-08-08 }}</ref>

Madagascar's traditional religions 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. This spiritual communion is celebrated by the Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of [[famadihana]], or "turning over the dead". 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. In the festivities, they eat, drink, and literally dance with the dead. After one or two days of celebrating, they shower the body with gifts and rebury it.
   
Malagasy [[Christianity in Madagascar|Christians]] are roughly 50% [[Catholic]] and 50% [[Protestant]] (mainly [[Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar|Reformed Protestant Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM)]], [[Lutheran]], and [[Anglican]]) or [[Roman Catholic]], but there are also smaller groups such as members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (Mormons), [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Seventh-day Adventists]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Madagascar|Eastern Orthodox Christians]] and evangelicals.<ref name="US State Dept 2022 report">[https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/Madagascar/ US State Dept 2022 report]</ref> Many [[syncretism|incorporate]] the cult of the dead with their other 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. A historical rivalry exists between the predominantly Catholic masses, considered to be underprivileged, and the predominantly Protestant Merina aristocrats, who tend to prevail in the civil service, business, and professions.
   
Followers of [[Islam]] constitute approximately 3% of the population in 2022, according to the US Department of State;<ref name="US State Dept 2022 report"/> there are also small numbers of [[Hindus]] and [[Jews]].
   
[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Madagascar|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] had more than 13,000 members in 42 [[Ward (LDS Church)|congregations]] in Madagascar in 2013.<ref>{{citation |url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/madagascar |title=Madagascar |department=Facts and Statistics |work=Newsroom |publisher=LDS Church |access-date=2013-03-10}}</ref>

[[Jews in Madagascar|A small community]] started practicing [[Judaism]] in 2010, and formally converted in 2016 with the assistance of Kulanu, a nonprofit organization focusing on remote Jewish communities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2016/11/25/united-states/in-madagascar-worlds-newest-jewish-community-seeks-to-establish-itself|title=In Madagascar, 'world's newest Jewish community' seeks to establish itself|date=2016-11-25|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2016/06/05/global/in-remote-madagascar-a-new-community-chooses-to-be-jewish|title=In remote Madagascar, a new community chooses to be Jewish|date=2016-06-05|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-29}}</ref>