Ethiopia

This Page was last updated on the 2nd. November, 2006.

 

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Country

Ethiopia

Official Name

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik)
Former Name Abyssinia, Italian East Africa, Ethiopia (one of the oldest independent counties in the world [mentioned in writings of Herodotus 5th. C. B.C. and Old Testament]; never under colonial rule except for Italian occupation in 1936-41; Italians defeated by British and Ethiopian forces and Emperor returned to the throne; Eritrea province begins fight for independence in 1962; ruled by ancient Ethiopian monarchy until Emperor Haile Selassie deposed in 1974; Eritrea gains independence in 1993; Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia installed in August 1995; border war between Ethiopian-Eritrea in 1998-2000.)

Capital

Addis Ababa

Main Towns

Addis Ababa (pop. 2.6 million), Awassa (pop. 104,000), Bahir Dar (pop. 140,000), Dessie (pop. 142,000), Dire Dawa (pop. 237,000), Gondar (pop. 163,000), Jimma (pop. 132,000), Mekelle (pop. 141,000), Nazret (pop. 189,000)

Subdivisions

9 states: Afar, Amara, Binshangul Gumuz, Gambela Hizboch, Hareri Hizb, Oromiya, Sumale, Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region). 2 self-governing administrations: Adis Abeba (Addis Ababa), Dire Dawa.

Independence

Never colonised - oldest independent country in Africa, one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

Constitution ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995
National Holiday National Day (defeat of Mengistu regime), 28 May (1991)

UN Membership

13 November 1945

OAU Membership

25 May 1963 – now African Union (AU)

Commonwealth

n/a

Other Organisations

In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Intergovernmental Group of 24 (G-24), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM - observer), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations University (UNU), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO - observer).

Population

World Bank Figures: 62,782,000 (1999), 64,298,000 (2000), 65,777,992 (2001), 67,217,840 (2002), 68,613,472 (2003)
Other Sources: 55,979,018 (July 1995), 65,891,874 (July 2001 est.), 66,557,553 (July 2003 est.) 73,053,286 (July 2005 est.)

Area

446,953 sq. mls. (1,157,603 sq. kms.)

Density

40 per sq.km. (1995)

Highest Point

Ras Dashem Mt. 15,158 ft. (4,620 m.)

Lowest Point

Asale (Denakil Depression) -410 ft. (-125 m.)

Neighbours

Djibouti (NW), Eritrea (N), Kenya (S), Somalia (E & NE), Sudan (W)

Life Expectancy

49 years (1995), total population:  44.68 years, male:  43.88 years, female:  45.51 years (2001 est.)
total population: 41.24 years, male: 40.39 years, female: 42.11 years (2003 est.)
total population: 48.83 years male: 47.67 years female: 50.03 years (2005 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate total: 103.22 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 92.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 113.48 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 95.32 deaths/1,000 live births male: 105.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 85.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate: 6.4% (2001 est.) 4.4% (2003 est.)
people living with HIV/AIDS: 2.1 million (2001 est.) 1.5 million (2003 est.)
deaths: 160,000 (2001 est.) 120,000 (2003 est.)

IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Ethiopia - Updated: Oct 2005
Population: 72.4 million
HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: 6.7
No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 1.5 million
No. Of People in need of ART: 200,000
No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): 24,000
No. Of People on ART Public Sector: 8,640
No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: N/A
No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): 93,000
Front Line Drug Regimen: Stavudine+Lamivudine+Nevirapine and Lamivudine+Stavudine+Efavirenz
HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 56
Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 2: Approved 09-Oct-03): US$55,383,811.00
Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$40,444,917.00
Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): US$59,700,000.00
Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: US$61,359,213.00
Source: National AIDS Commission, UNAIDS, The Global Fund, The World Bank

Adult Literacy Rate

total population:  35.5%, male:  45.5%, female:  25.3% (1995 est.)
total population: 42.7%, male: 50.3%, female: 35.1% (2003 est.)

Ethnic Groups

Afar 4%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Gurage 2%, Oromo 40%, Shankella 6%, Sidamo 9%, Somali 6%, other 1%

Languages

Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Religions

Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian 35%-40%, Traditional Religion (Animist) 12%, other 3%-8%, about 18,000 Falasha Jews still live in Gondar and Tigre.

Type of Government

Federal republic

President

Girma Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)

Prime Minister

Meles Zenawi (since August 1995)

Political Parties

Afar National Democratic Party (ANDP); Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM); Bench Madji People's Democratic Organization (BMPDO); Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front (BGPDU); Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF, alliance of ANDM, OPDO, SEPDF, and TPLF); Gedeyo People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (GPRDF); Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement (GNDM); Kafa Shaka People's Democratic Organization (KSPDO); Kembata, Alabaa and Tembaro (KAT); Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO); Sidamo People's Democratic Organization (SPDO); South Omo People's Democratic Movement (SOPDM); Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF); Walayta, Gamo, Gofa, Dawro, and Konta People's Democratic Organization (WGGPDO).

Political pressure groups: Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front (ARDUF); Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia (CAFPDE); Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition (SEPDC).

Ruling Party

Coalition ?

Currency

Birr (ETB)(100 cents)
birr per US dollar - 8.68 (2004), 8.5997 (2003), 8.5678 (2002), 8.4575 (2001), 8.2173 (2000)

GDP

GDP: US$6.7bn (2003 World Bank)
Real GDP: US$8.1 billion (2004)
US$124(1992) US$120 (1994) US$5,287m (1995)
purchasing power parity - US$54.89 billion (2004 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity - US$750 (2002 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity - US$800 (2004 est.)

GNP

US$190 (1992) US$100 (1995)

Per Capita Income Per capita income: US$116 (2004) GNI per head: US$90 (2003 World Bank)
Population Below Poverty Line 45% (2002 est.)
Land Use arable land: 10.71% permanent crops: 0.75% other: 88.54% (2001) Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources mall reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
Oil and Natural Gas production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001) proved reserves: 214,000 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 12.46 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Military Military branches: Ethiopian National Defense Force (Ground Forces, Air Force, militia, police)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 15,388,318 (2003 est.)
males age 18-49: 14,568,277 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$800 million, 12.6% of GDP (FY00) US$337.1 million, 4.6% of GDP (2004)
Economic Aid Received US$308 million (FY00)
Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$10 (1999), US$11 (2000), US$17 (2001), US$19 (2002), US$22 (2003)

Debt

Severely indebted (HIPC)
World Bank Figures: US$3,264,000,000 (2000), US$2,915,000,064 (2001), US$3,972,000,000 (2002), US$1,550,700,032 (2003)
Other Sources: US$4bn (1995) US$10 bn (1999 est.) US$5.3 billion (2001 est.)

Major Imports

food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

Imports from

Saudi Arabia 29.3%, Italy 7.2%, India 6.7%, US 4.2%, Russia (2001)
Saudi Arabia 25%, US 15.9%, China 6.7% (2004) US$2.104 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Major Exports

coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds

Exports to

Djibouti 13.2%, Italy 9.4%, Japan 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 9.0% (2001)
Djibouti 13.6%, Germany 9.7%, Japan 9%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, US 5.4%, Italy 4.9%, UK 4.3% (2004) US$562.8 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

We try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added, please let us know by emailing to: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com

The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 2 November, 2006

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