List of presidents of Madagascar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of Madagascar
Presidential Standard
Incumbent Michael Randrianirina since 14 October 2025
Style	President His Excellency
Residence	Iavoloha Palace
Seat	Antananarivo
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Madagascar (2010)
Inaugural holder	Philibert Tsiranana
Formation	1 May 1959; 66 years ago (1959-05-01)

The President of Madagascar is the country's main leader. This important role began in 1959, when Madagascar was known as the Malagasy Republic. The president is in charge of the government and helps guide the nation.

Presidential Term Limits

The Constitution of Madagascar states that a president can serve for a maximum of two terms. Each term lasts for five years. So far, no president has served for the full two terms allowed.

How a New President is Chosen

If the president's position becomes empty, the president of the Senate usually steps in temporarily. This person acts as the president until a new one can be chosen. Following a significant change in government in 2025, Colonel Michael Randrianirina was appointed as the interim president. He officially took office on October 14, 2025.

List of Madagascar's Presidents

This section shows a list of all the people who have served as President of Madagascar. It also includes their political parties and when they were in office.

Political parties

     Social Democratic Party (PSD)      Malagasy Revolutionary Party (AREMA)      National Union for Democracy and Development (UNDD)      Judged by Your Work Party (AVI)      I Love Madagascar (TIM)      Young Malagasies Determined (TGV)      Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara (HVM)

Other groups

     Military      Independent

Special status

     This means the person was an Acting President

No.	Portrait	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Time in Office			Political Party		Prime Minister(s)
				Started Role	Ended Role	How Long
Malagasy Republic (within the French Community)
—		Philibert Tsiranana (1912–1978)	—	1 May 1959	26 June 1960	1 year, 56 days		PSD	Position abolished
Malagasy Republic (independent country)
1		Philibert Tsiranana (1912–1978)	1965 1972	26 June 1960	11 October 1972 (Resigned)	12 years, 107 days		PSD	Ramanantsoa
2		Gabriel Ramanantsoa (1906–1979)	1972 (referendum)	11 October 1972	5 February 1975 (Resigned)	2 years, 117 days		Military	Himself
—		Richard Ratsimandrava (1931–1975)	—	5 February 1975	11 February 1975 (Assassinated)	6 days		Military	Position abolished
—		Gilles Andriamahazo (1919–1989)	—	12 February 1975	15 June 1975	123 days		Military
—		Didier Ratsiraka (1936–2021)	—	15 June 1975	30 December 1975	198 days		Military
Democratic Republic of Madagascar
3		Didier Ratsiraka (1936–2021)	1982 1989	30 December 1975	12 January 1992	16 years, 13 days		Military / AREMA	Rakotomalala Rakotoniaina Rakotoarijaona Ramahatra Razanamasy
Third Republic of Madagascar
(3)		Didier Ratsiraka (1936–2021)	—	12 January 1992	27 March 1993	1 year, 74 days		AREMA	Razanamasy
4		Albert Zafy (1927–2017)	1992–93	27 March 1993	5 September 1996 (Resigned)	3 years, 162 days		UNDD	Razanamasy Ravony Rakotovahiny Ratsirahonana
—		Norbert Ratsirahonana (born 1938)	—	5 September 1996	9 February 1997	157 days		AVI	Himself
5		Didier Ratsiraka (1936–2021)	1996	9 February 1997	(25 February 2002) 5 July 2002	5 years, 146 days		AREMA	Ratsirahonana Rakotomavo Andrianarivo Rasolondraibe
6		Marc Ravalomanana (born 1949)	2001 2006	(22 February 2002) 5 July 2002	17 March 2009 (Deposed)	6 years, 255 days		TIM	Sylla Rabemananjara
—		Hyppolite Ramaroson (born 1951)	—	17 March 2009		Several hours		Military	Position vacant
High Transitional Authority
—		Andry Rajoelina (born 1974)	—	(7 February 2009) 17 March 2009	25 January 2014	4 years, 314 days		TGV	Roindefo Mangalaza Manorohanta Vital Beriziky
Fourth Republic of Madagascar
7		Hery Rajaonarimampianina (born 1958)	2013	25 January 2014	7 September 2018	4 years, 225 days		HVM	Beriziky Kolo Ranelonarivo Solonandrasana Ntsay
—		Rivo Rakotovao (born 1960)	—	7 September 2018	19 January 2019	134 days		HVM	Ntsay
8		Andry Rajoelina (born 1974)	2018	19 January 2019	9 September 2023	4 years, 233 days		TGV	Ntsay
—		Council of Ministers Prime Minister: Christian Ntsay (born 1961)	—	9 September 2023	27 October 2023	48 days		Independent	Himself
—		Richard Ravalomanana (born 1959)	—	27 October 2023	16 December 2023	50 days		Independent	Ntsay
(8)		Andry Rajoelina (born 1974)	2023	16 December 2023	14 October 2025	1 year, 302 days		TGV	Ntsay Zafisambo
—		Jean André Ndremanjary	—	14 October 2025		Several hours		TGV	Zafisambo
9		Michael Randrianirina (born 1974)	—	14 October 2025	Incumbent	7 days		Military	Zafisambo

Timeline of Presidents

How Long Presidents Served

This list shows how long each president (not including acting presidents) served in office. It is ordered from the longest time to the shortest. Out of the seven people who have been president, only two, Didier Ratsiraka and Andry Rajoelina, served their terms at different times, not all at once.

Latest Election Results

2023 Malagasy presidential election

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Presidente de Madagascar para niños

• Politics of Madagascar
• List of Imerina monarchs
• List of colonial governors of Madagascar
• Prime Minister of Madagascar
• Vice President of Madagascar
• First Lady of Madagascar