# Philibert Tsiranana

_First President of Madagascar (1959-1972)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/philibert-tsiranana
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Philibert Tsiranana was a Malagasy politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Madagascar from 1958 to 1959, and subsequently as the country's first president from 1959 to 1972.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 October 1912 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Ambarikorano ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P19))
- **Died:** 16 April 1978 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P570))
- **Place of death:** Antananarivo ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Madagascar; France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P106))
- **Political party:** Social Democratic Party of Madagascar and the Comoros ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P102))
- **Spouse:** Justine Tsiranana ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P26))
- **Positions held:** President of Madagascar (1 May 1959 – 11 October 1972); member of the French National Assembly (9 December 1958 – 15 July 1959); member of the French National Assembly (2 January 1956 – 8 December 1958); Prime Minister of Madagascar; school teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P39))
- **Awards:** National Order of Madagascar; Order of Sikatuna; Order of Merit for National Foundation ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944#P166))

## Questions

**When was Philibert Tsiranana born?**  
Philibert Tsiranana was born on 18 October 1912 in Ambarikorano.

**What positions has Philibert Tsiranana held?**  
Positions held by Philibert Tsiranana include: President of Madagascar (1959–1972); member of the French National Assembly (1958–1959); member of the French National Assembly (1956–1958); Prime Minister of Madagascar; school teacher.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Philibert Tsiranana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philibert_Tsiranana) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q315944](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315944) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Philibert Tsiranana 1962.jpg by Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F013783-0033,_Berlin,_Staatsbesuch_aus_Madagaskar.jpg : Wegmann, Ludwig derivative work: Polaert ( talk ) (CC BY-SA 3.0 de)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philibert_Tsiranana_1962.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Philibert Tsiranana, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Philibert Tsiranana 1962.jpg — Bundesarchiv_B_145_Bild-F013783-0033,_Berlin,_Staatsbesuch_aus_Madagaskar.jpg : Wegmann, Ludwig derivative work: Polaert ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0 de.

## Cite this page

"Philibert Tsiranana". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/philibert-tsiranana. Retrieved 6 November 2026.