Since the country's independence in 1960, three general census of population and dwellings (RGPH) have been conducted by the national statistics office INSTAT under the supervision of the ministry of economy.

Therefore, the demographic situation is inferred but reliability of any estimates from any source has a large margin of error.

In addition, communities of Indians in Madagascar and Arabs and Somalis have long been established on the island and have assimilated into local communities to varying degrees, in some places having long since become identified "Malagasy" ethnic groups, and in others maintaining distinct identities and cultural separation.

Malagasy society has long been polarized between the politically and economically advantaged highlanders of the central plateaux and the people along the coast.

Nowadays[update] the younger generations speak at least three languages, including French, Gujarati and Malagasy.

[citation needed] A sizeable number of Europeans also reside in Madagascar, mostly of French descent.

This spiritual communion is celebrated by the Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or "turning over the dead".

Malagasy Christians are roughly 50% Catholic and 50% Protestant (mainly 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 Orthodox Christians and evangelicals.

Followers of Islam constitute approximately 3% of the population in 2022, according to the US Department of State;[14] there are also small numbers of Hindus and Jews.