Which Malagasy ethnic group is the largest in Madagascar?

The largest and most dominant ethnic group in Madagascar is the Merina people.123

Primarily inhabiting the country's central plateau, the Merina constitute the most populous ethnolinguistic group on the island. While the Malagasy population is divided into approximately 20 distinct ethnic groups, the Merina have historically played a central role in the nation's development, having established a unified kingdom that consolidated power over much of the central highlands before the colonial era. Today, they represent a significant portion of the country's educated middle class and intellectual elite.123