Ethiopia

Capital: Addis Ababa
Currency: birr (ETB)
Independece: Oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

NATURAL FEATURES

Small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower.
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift.
Valley Area: total: 1,127,127 sq km.
Elevation extremes: Lowest point:Denakil -125 m.
Highest point:Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m.

PEOPLE

Population: 65,891,874
Population growth rate: 2.7% (2001 est.)
Population is mainly rural, with most living in highlands above 5,900 ft (1,800 m).
Major Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Major Languages: Amharic(official),Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaranginga, Somali, and Arabic. A substantial number of Ethiopians speak English, which is commonly taught in school.
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 35.5% male: 45.5% female: 25.3% (1995 est.)

GOVERNMENT

Government type: Federal Republic
National holiday: National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations(astedaderoch, singular - astedader): Adis Abeba (Addis Ababa); Afar; Amara, Binshangul Gumuz; Dire Dawa; Gambela Hizboch; Hareri Hizb; Oromiya; Sumale; Tigray; YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region).
Governed under the constitution of 1994, which provides for a president as chief of state and a prime minister as head of government. The bicameral parliament consists of the 117-seat Council of the Federation, which represents the ethnic interests of the regional governments, and the 548-seat Council of People's Representatives(whose members are popularly elected members to serve five-year terms) and who in turn elect the president. The prime minister is designated by the party in power following legislative elections.

ECONOMY

Extremely poor and overwhelmingly agricultural country. Farm products account for over half of the country's gross domestic product and 90% of its exports (which is mainly coffee). Most of the population is engaged in subsistence farming. Chief farm products are coffee, teff and other millets, sorghum, barley, wheat, corn, plantains, peas, potatoes, oilseeds, cotton, and sugarcane. Cattle, sheep, and goats are raised. Industry is mostly restricted to agricultural processing and the manufacture of consumer goods.Ethiopia is mosyly unable to feed its population because of its degraded lands and frequent sessions of drought and has to rely greatly on food imports.

Chief Imports:Food, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, motor vehicles, chemicals, and manufactured consumer goods.
Chief Exports:Coffee, hides and skins, oilseeds, grain, and gold.
Leading trade partners:Germany, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Japan.

TRANSPORTATION

Poor transportation network, with few year-round roads.
Railways total:681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad).
Since May 1998 Ethiopia has expended considerable effort to repair and maintain the lines.
Highways total:28,500 km
Airports: 86 (2000 est.)

REFERENCES

Dictionary, Encyclopedia, World Facts