Group |
Where |
Number of Adherents |
% of total pop. |
Number of congreg./ churches/ units |
Number of countries |
Year |
Source |
Quote/ Notes |
Macau Baptist Association |
Macau |
750 |
- |
7 units |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Baptist World Alliance web site; page: "BWA Statistics " (viewed 31 March 1999). |
"Figures are for BWA affiliated conventions/unions only (no independents included). "; Table with 3 columns: Country, "Churches ", & "Members "; "1997/1998 Totals " |
Nonreligious |
Macau |
263,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
Nonreligious |
Macau |
230,065 |
45.80% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981); Total pop.: 502,325 (1997 est.). (Overseas territory of Portugal) |
other |
Macau |
97,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table; "other " = NOT nonreligious or Buddhist |
Protestant |
Macau |
- |
1.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% "; Protestant "includes all non-Roman Catholic denominations " |
Protestant |
Macau |
5,023 |
1.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981); Total pop.: 502,325 (1997 est.). (Overseas territory of Portugal) |
Albanian |
Macedonia |
800,000 |
40.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* Gamming, Jenny. They have a flag-but no country " in Swedish Expressen, 17 Aug. 1997. (Viewed 16 Aug. 1999). Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organisation web site. Translated by SSF/Goran Hansson. |
"There are 800,000 ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. They represent about 40% of the total population of Macedonia and live mainly in western Macedonia, which belonged to Albania until 1945. Since 1992, when Macedonia left Yugoslavia, the Slavic majority in the country has dominated the Albanian population. " |
Albanian |
Macedonia |
800,000 |
40.00% |
- |
- |
1999 |
*LINK* Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organisation web site; web page: "Albanians in Macedonia " (Viewed 16 Aug. 1999). |
"There are 800,000 ethnic Albanians in Macedonia who live mainly in western Macedonia, which belonged to Albania until 1945. In this area the Albanians are the original inhabitants. Ethnic Diversity: Since 1992, when Macedonia left Yugoslavia, the Slavic majority in the country has dominated the Albanian population, who represents 50% of the total population of Macedonia. Albanians represent 40% and remaining 10% of the population is formed by a combination of Turks, Vlasies, Roma and Bulgars. Languages: Albanian. Organisations: Albanians are represented in the Macedonin Parliament by deputies of the party of Democratic Prosperity (PPD) and the People Democratic Party (PDP). " |
Catholic |
Macedonia |
63,000 |
1.43% |
25 units |
- |
1995 |
1998 Catholic Almanac: Our Sunday Visitor: USA (1997), pg. 333-367. |
Figures are as of Dec. 31, 1995. Number used for "congregations " is from number of Catholic parishes. |
Eastern Orthodox |
Macedonia |
1,337,226 |
67.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%; Total pop.: 1,995,859 (July 1997 est.) note: the Macedonian government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted; [Location listed as "Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of "] |
Islam |
Macedonia |
598,758 |
30.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
Eastern Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%; Total pop.: 1,995,859 (July 1997 est.) note: the Macedonian government census of July 1994 put the population at 1.94 million, but ethnic allocations were likely undercounted; [Location listed as "Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of "] |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Macedonia |
808 |
0.04% |
13 units |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* official organization web site |
Adherent/member count is for "1997 Peak Witnesses "; Memorial attendance (annual sacrament meeting) for same year: 2,605. |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Macedonia |
923 |
0.05% |
15 units |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Jehovah's Witnesses official web site; section: "Statistics "; web page: "Worldwide Report " (viewed 16 April 1999). |
Table: "1998 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide "; This adherent/member count is for "1998 Peak Witnesses " |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Macedonia |
2,605 |
0.13% |
13 units |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* official organization web site |
From 1997 Statistics "Memorial attendance " column. Count of all who attend this once-a-year meeting, whether or not a "publisher " in full standing. Most would be considered adherents. |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Macedonia |
2,621 |
0.13% |
- |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Jehovah's Witnesses official web site; section: "Statistics "; web page: "Worldwide Report " (viewed 16 April 1999). |
Table: "1998 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide "; "Memorial attendance " column indicates attendance at yearly communion meeting. |
other |
Macedonia |
60,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table; "other " = NOT Serbian (Macedonian) Orthodox or Sunni Muslim |
Roma |
Macedonia |
44,537 |
2.30% |
- |
- |
1994 |
Shoemaker, M. Wesley. Russia, Eurasian States, and Eastern Europe 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 370-371. |
"Macedonia... Population: 1,936,377 (July 1994)... Other minorities include Turks (4%), Romanies (Gypsies, 2.3%), and Serbs (2%). " |
Serbian & Macedonian Orthodox |
Macedonia |
1,320,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table; listed in table as "Serbian (Macedonian) Orthodox. " So I've included this statistic 2 times: As 'Serbian & Macedonian Orthodox', and 'Serbian Orthodox' |
Serbian Orthodox |
Macedonia |
1,320,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table; listed in table as "Serbian (Macedonian) Orthodox. " So I've included this statistic 3 times: As Serbian (Macedonian) Orthodox, Macedonian Orthodox, and Serbian Orthodox |
Sunni |
Macedonia |
590,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
Turk |
Macedonia |
77,455 |
4.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
Shoemaker, M. Wesley. Russia, Eurasian States, and Eastern Europe 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 370-371. |
"Macedonia... Population: 1,936,377 (July 1994)... Other minorities include Turks (4%), Romanies (Gypsies, 2.3%), and Serbs (2%). " |
Africa Evangelical Fellowship |
Madagascar |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1987 |
*LINK* "Southern Africa " in SIM NOW, Feb. 1999 (vol. #85); (viewed online 6 July 1999); SIM International web site. |
"Africa Evangelical Fellowship missionaries entered Madagascar in 1987 to work with another mission group in a medical and agricultural ministry. " |
African Traditional Religion |
Madagascar |
1,556,000 |
60.30% |
- |
- |
1900 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR... " (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa " |
African Traditional Religion |
Madagascar |
3,408,050 |
49.20% |
- |
- |
1970 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR... " (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa " |
African Traditional Religion |
Madagascar |
3,859,780 |
48.10% |
- |
- |
1975 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR... " (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa " |
African Traditional Religion |
Madagascar |
4,390,180 |
47.00% |
- |
- |
1980 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR in African Nations "; (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa " |
African Traditional Religion |
Madagascar |
7,385,290 |
55.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies |
13,427,758 [total pop.] (1994). Estimated 55 percent hold indigenous beliefs; 40 percent Christian, evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants; 5 percent Muslim. |
African Traditional Religion |
Madagascar |
7,591,000 |
42.70% |
- |
- |
2000 |
*LINK* web page: "Geographical Distribution of Followers of ATR in African Nations "; (viewed 13 March 1999); Arranged by Chidi Denis Isizoh from the entries made in: Barret, D.B. World Christian Encylopedia. Nairobi (1982). |
Table: "Geographical Distribution of Adherents of African Traditional Religion in the Continent of Africa "; Projection, made circa 1982. |
Catholic |
Madagascar |
- |
26.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
Catholic |
Madagascar |
2,685,560 |
20.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies |
13,427,758 [total pop.] (1994). Estimated 55 percent hold indigenous beliefs; 40 percent Christian, evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants; 5 percent Muslim. |
Catholic |
Madagascar |
3,134,000 |
21.00% |
279 units |
- |
1995 |
1998 Catholic Almanac: Our Sunday Visitor: USA (1997), pg. 333-367. |
Figures are as of Dec. 31, 1995. Number used for "congregations " is from number of Catholic parishes. |
Catholic |
Madagascar |
2,730,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
Catholic |
Madagascar |
3,000,000 |
25.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 276, 278. |
"Malagasy: Location: Madagascar; Population: 12 million; Religion: Traditional beliefs; Christianity; Islam; animism "; Pg. 278: "Harold D. Nelson in his Area Handbook for the Malagasy Republic [observes] 'about [half] of the population [of Madagascar] are Christians, divided almost evenly between Roman Catholics and Protestants; [there is a] small Muslim element; [the] rest [of the] population adheres to indigenous belifs and practices... " |
Catholic |
Madagascar |
- |
26.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Nazarene web site: Nazarene World Mission Society; (major source: Johnstone's Operation World) |
Table "Religions " |
Catholic |
Madagascar |
4,000,000 |
25.00% |
- |
- |
1999 |
*LINK* "Southern Africa " in SIM NOW, Feb. 1999 (vol. #85); (viewed online 6 July 1999); SIM International web site. |
"More than half of the 16 million Malagasy people consider themselves Christians-evenly divided between Catholics and Protestants. " |
Christianity |
Madagascar |
5,371,120 |
40.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies |
13,427,758 [total pop.] (1994). Estimated 55 percent hold indigenous beliefs; 40 percent Christian, evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants; 5 percent Muslim. |
Christianity |
Madagascar |
5,863,000 |
41.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Web site: "Council for World Mission "; web page: "Madagascar " (viewed 31 May 1999). |
"Country information: Population (1994 United Nations estimate): 14.3 million (26.4% urban)... Main religions: Indigenous beliefs (52%), Christianity (41%), Islam (7%). " |
Christianity |
Madagascar |
5,765,267 |
41.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%; Total pop.: 14,061,627. |
Christianity |
Madagascar |
5,002,000 |
41.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
Dostert, Pierre Etienne. Africa 1997 (The World Today Series). Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications (1997), pg. 160. |
Estimates of % of population in principal religions, & est. 1997 total pop. |
Christianity |
Madagascar |
6,000,000 |
50.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 276, 278. |
"Malagasy: Location: Madagascar; Population: 12 million; Religion: Traditional beliefs; Christianity; Islam; animism "; Pg. 278: "Harold D. Nelson in his Area Handbook for the Malagasy Republic [observes] 'about [half] of the population [of Madagascar] are Christians, divided almost evenly between Roman Catholics and Protestants; [there is a] small Muslim element; [the] rest [of the] population adheres to indigenous belifs and practices... " |
Christianity |
Madagascar |
8,000,000 |
50.00% |
- |
- |
1999 |
*LINK* "Southern Africa " in SIM NOW, Feb. 1999 (vol. #85); (viewed online 6 July 1999); SIM International web site. |
"More than half of the 16 million Malagasy people consider themselves Christians-evenly divided between Catholics and Protestants. " |
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar |
Madagascar |
2,000,000 |
13.99% |
4,000 units |
- |
1999 |
*LINK* Web site: "Council for World Mission "; web page: "Madagascar " (viewed 31 May 1999). |
"Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM)... Country information: Population (1994 United Nations estimate): 14.3 million... Members/Congregations: 2 million/4,000... " |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Madagascar |
400 |
- |
2 units |
- |
1995 |
Deseret News 1997-98 Church Almanac. Deseret News: Salt Lake City, UT (1996), pg. 188-408. |
"Year-end 1995: Est. population [of country]; Members, [number shown in '# of adherents' column to left] " |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Madagascar |
737 |
- |
- |
- |
1997 |
"LDS in Africa: Growing Membership Sees American Church with Unique Vision, " Salt Lake Tribune, 4 April 1998. Reprinted in Sunstone (June 1998, pg. 71). |
Map: Membership totals as of December 1997. |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Madagascar |
700 |
- |
4 units |
- |
1997 |
Deseret News 1999-2000 Church Almanac. Deseret News: Salt Lake City, UT (1998), pg. 267-410. |
Information from a variety of sources. Figures for year-end 1997. |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Madagascar |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1999 |
"LDS Scene " in Ensign, Sept. 1999, pg. 77. |
"The Church's first meetinghouses in two nations were recently constructed... In Antananarivo, Madagascar, Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the Seventy... dedicated a new meetinghouse before a congregation of about 600. The new building is home to two wards and also includes the mission home and offices for the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission. " |
Church of the Nazarene |
Madagascar |
255 |
- |
- |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* official organization web site: Nazarene World Mission Society |
Church Statistics: Churches; 2 Jan 1998 |
Churches of Christ |
Madagascar |
22 |
0.00% |
1 unit |
- |
1995 |
*LINK* official organization web site |
table: "STATUS OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA--1995 " (Campbellite) |
Council for World Mission |
Madagascar |
2,000,000 |
13.99% |
4,000 units |
- |
1999 |
*LINK* Web site: "Council for World Mission "; web page: "Madagascar " (viewed 31 May 1999). |
"Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM)... Country information: Population (1994 United Nations estimate): 14.3 million... Members/Congregations: 2 million/4,000... " [FJKM is the only Council for World Missions church in Madagascar] |
Evangelical |
Madagascar |
- |
2.00% |
- |
- |
1989 |
*LINK* Nance Profiles web site (orig. source: 1/6/89 issue of GLOBAL PRAYER DIGEST); (viewed Aug. 1998; now restricted.) |
the lure of ancient religion remains a stronghold among the 10,300,000 people of Madagascar. Most who call themselves Christians have no knowledge of the basics of the gospel; and evangelical believers like Randria make up a scant 2% of the population. |
Islam |
Madagascar |
600,000 |
7.00% |
- |
- |
1978 |
Welch, Alford T. "Islam " in Hinnells, John R. (ed). A Handbook of Living Religions, Penguin Books: New York (1991) [reprint; 1st published in 1984], pg. 164-165. [Original src: Weeks, R. (ed.), "Muslim Peoples: A World Ethnographic Survey " (1978).] |
Table: "Approximate Muslim populations and percentages of total populations " |
Islam |
Madagascar |
- |
2.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% " |
Islam |
Madagascar |
671,390 |
5.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Library of Congress Country Studies |
13,427,758 [total pop.] (1994). Estimated 55 percent hold indigenous beliefs; 40 percent Christian, evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants; 5 percent Muslim. |
Islam |
Madagascar |
1,001,000 |
7.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Web site: "Council for World Mission "; web page: "Madagascar " (viewed 31 May 1999). |
"Country information: Population (1994 United Nations estimate): 14.3 million (26.4% urban)... Main religions: Indigenous beliefs (52%), Christianity (41%), Islam (7%). " |
Islam |
Madagascar |
680,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table: "Religion ": Divided by nations, with 2 columns: "Religious affiliation " & "1996 pop. " [of that religion]. Based on best avail. figures, whether census data, membership figures or estimates by analysts, as % of est. 1996 midyear pop. |
Islam |
Madagascar |
984,314 |
7.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%; Total pop.: 14,061,627. |
Islam |
Madagascar |
- |
2.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Nazarene web site: Nazarene World Mission Society; (major source: Johnstone's Operation World) |
Table "Religions " |
Islam |
Madagascar |
356,000 |
2.00% |
- |
- |
2000 |
K. F. Bin Mohd Noor. "Muslims Statistics... for Year 2000 " [orig. src: Barrett. World Christian Encyclopedia, 1982] |
Table |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Madagascar |
1,530 |
0.02% |
31 units |
- |
1983 |
Botting, Heather & Gary Botting. The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (1984), pg. 53-59. |
Table: "1983 Service Year Report of JWs Worldwide "; Adherent count here is from "1983 Peak Publishers " column |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Madagascar |
8,655 |
0.06% |
157 units |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* official organization web site |
Adherent/member count is for "1997 Peak Witnesses "; Memorial attendance (annual sacrament meeting) for same year: 45,300. |
Jehovah's Witnesses |
Madagascar |
9,761 |
0.07% |
203 units |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Jehovah's Witnesses official web site; section: "Statistics "; web page: "Worldwide Report " (viewed 16 April 1999). |
Table: "1998 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide "; This adherent/member count is for "1998 Peak Witnesses " |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Madagascar |
6,170 |
- |
31 units |
- |
1983 |
Botting, Heather & Gary Botting. The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (1984), pg. 53-59. |
Table: "1983 Service Year Report of JWs Worldwide "; Data from columns: "No. of congs. " and "Memorial attendance " |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Madagascar |
45,300 |
0.33% |
157 units |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* official organization web site |
From 1997 Statistics "Memorial attendance " column. Count of all who attend this once-a-year meeting, whether or not a "publisher " in full standing. Most would be considered adherents. |
Jehovah's Witnesses - Memorial attendance |
Madagascar |
41,559 |
0.30% |
- |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Jehovah's Witnesses official web site; section: "Statistics "; web page: "Worldwide Report " (viewed 16 April 1999). |
Table: "1998 Report of Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide "; "Memorial attendance " column indicates attendance at yearly communion meeting. |
Lutheran |
Madagascar |
1,500,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1995 |
*LINK* Evangelical Lutheran Church in America web site; web page: "January 25, 1996 News Releases " (viewed 9 July 1999). Story: "More than 60 Million Lutherans Worldwide " [96-01-003-FI] |
List: "Countries with more than 1/2 million Lutherans " |
Malagasy |
Madagascar |
12,000,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 276, 278. |
"Malagasy: Location: Madagascar; Population: 12 million; Religion: Traditional beliefs; Christianity; Islam; animism "; Pg. 278: "Traditional religion in Madagascar is identical with traditional culture; ancestral civilization determines values and behavior. All Malgasy believe that there is one supreme being called Zanahary (God) or Andriamanitra (Rakotosoa). There is no dogma or clergy. Men who die 'leave to become God,' having powers with the rank they held in life,' and 'prayers are always asked for blessing with both Zanahary and the ancestors,' observes Harold D. Nelson in his Area Handbook for the Malagasy Republic. He goes on: 'about [half] of the population [of Madagascar] are Christians, divided almost evenly between Roman Catholics and Protestants; [there is a] small Muslim element; [the] rest [of the] population adheres to indigenous belifs and practices... " |
Malagasy Lutheran Church |
Madagascar |
1,200,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Evangelical Lutheran Church in America web site; web page: "January 25, 1996 News Releases " (viewed 9 July 1999). Story: "More than 60 Million Lutherans Worldwide " [96-01-003-FI] |
"The most significant change was an increase in the membership of the Lutheran church in Madagascar. The Malagasy Lutheran Church recorded an increase [to 1,500,000] of 300,000 members compared with the previous year's figure. " |
Malagasy Lutheran Church |
Madagascar |
1,500,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1995 |
*LINK* Evangelical Lutheran Church in America web site; web page: "January 25, 1996 News Releases " (viewed 9 July 1999). Story: "More than 60 Million Lutherans Worldwide " [96-01-003-FI] |
"The most significant change was an increase in the membership of the Lutheran church in Madagascar. The Malagasy Lutheran Church recorded an increase [to 1,500,000] of 300,000 members compared with the previous year's figure. " |
Malagasy Lutheran Church |
Madagascar |
1,500,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1995 |
*LINK* Evangelical Lutheran Church in America web site; web page: "January 25, 1996 News Releases " (viewed 9 July 1999). Story: "More than 60 Million Lutherans Worldwide " [96-01-003-FI] |
List: "Lutheran Churches with more than 1/2 million members "; "Malagasy Lutheran Church (Madagascar) 1,500,000 " |
primal-indigenous |
Madagascar |
- |
47.00% |
- |
- |
1992 |
Goring, Rosemary (ed). Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions (Larousse: 1994) pg. 581-584. |
Table: "Population Distribution of Major Beliefs "; "Figures have been compiled from the most accurate recent available information and are in most cases correct to the nearest 1% "; Listed in table as "Traditional beliefs " |
primal-indigenous |
Madagascar |
7,436,000 |
52.00% |
- |
- |
1994 |
*LINK* Web site: "Council for World Mission "; web page: "Madagascar " (viewed 31 May 1999). |
"Country information: Population (1994 United Nations estimate): 14.3 million (26.4% urban)... Main religions: Indigenous beliefs (52%), Christianity (41%), Islam (7%). " |
primal-indigenous |
Madagascar |
7,520,000 |
- |
- |
- |
1996 |
1997 Britannica Book of the Year. Pg. 781-783. |
Table; listed as "traditional beliefs " |
primal-indigenous |
Madagascar |
7,312,046 |
52.00% |
- |
- |
1997 |
*LINK* CIA World Factbook web site (viewed Aug. 1998) |
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%; Total pop.: 14,061,627. |
primal-indigenous |
Madagascar |
5,640,000 |
47.00% |
- |
- |
1998 |
Gall, Timothy L. (ed). Worldmark Encyclopedia of Culture & Daily Life: Vol. 1 - Africa. Cleveland, OH: Eastword Publications Development (1998), pg. 276, 278. |
"Malagasy: Location: Madagascar; Population: 12 million; Religion: Traditional beliefs; Christianity; Islam; animism "; Pg. 278: "All Malgasy believe that there is one supreme being called Zanahary (God) or Andriamanitra (Rakotosoa). There is no dogma or clergy. Men who die 'leave to become God,' having powers with the rank they held in life,' and 'prayers are always asked for blessing with both Zanahary and the ancestors,' observes Harold D. Nelson in his Area Handbook for the Malagasy Republic. He goes on: 'about [half] of the population [of Madagascar] are Christians, divided almost evenly between Roman Catholics and Protestants; [there is a] small Muslim element; [the] rest [of the] population adheres to indigenous belifs and practices... " |
primal-indigenous |
Madagascar |
- |
44.50% |
- |
- |
1998 |
*LINK* Nazarene web site: Nazarene World Mission Society; (major source: Johnstone's Operation World) |
Table "Religions "; listed in table as "animism " |