In the French North Atlantic archipelago with 6,000 residents, a Malagasy community is gradually settling to counter demographic decline. Berthine Madé, who arrived 23 years ago, expresses her contentment living on this small island despite her island origins.
Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a small French archipelago in the North Atlantic, faces demographic decline and promotes its quality of life to attract young residents. Among its 6,000 inhabitants, early 2026 saw 82 foreigners holding residence permits, representing 26 nationalities. Malagasy people, mostly women, form the largest foreign community with 12 individuals, ahead of the 10 Canadians from nearby Newfoundland.
The first Malagasy arrived about 50 years ago. Berthine Madé, who has lived there for 23 years, recounts her arrival: “I found my husband by correspondence,” she smiles. “Upon arrival, there were few people from elsewhere, and they asked if we had bread or even cars in Madagascar. I wasn't upset.” Her white house, perched on the heights of Saint-Pierre above the port, reflects a cultural blend: sculpted chairs, a white tablecloth embroidered with traditional Malagasy figures, and a warm wooden interior typical of the archipelago.
In 2025, five Malagasy workers from the Indian Ocean settled, according to Berthine. She appreciates the island's size: “This very small island suits me very well, me who grew up on a big island, as long as I can continue to travel as I do.” Winter doesn't bother her. Other nationalities, from Colombia to Senegal via Russia, trickle in, enriching the diversity of this isolated territory.
