Unique among African countries, the
ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule
with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936-41. In
1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who
had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody
coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the
regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A
constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty
elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the 1990s
ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. In November 2007, the
Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission remotely demarcated the border by
geographical coordinates, but final demarcation of the boundary on the
ground is currently on hold because of Ethiopian objections to an
international commission's finding requiring it to surrender territory
considered sensitive to Ethiopia.
Geography ::Ethiopia
Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 1,104,300 sq km
7
land:
1 million sq km
water:
104,300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,328 km
border countries:
Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain:
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point:
Ras Dejen 4,533 m
Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment - current issues:
deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some
areas from water-intensive farming and poor management
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked - entire
coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of
Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile
by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia;
three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee,
grain sorghum, and castor bean
People ::Ethiopia
Population:
88,013,491
4
note:estimates
for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess
mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher
infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
65 years and over:
2.7% (male 1,006,149/female 1,340,425) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.8 years
male:
16.5 years
female:
17.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.202% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Birth rate:
43.34 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Death rate:
11.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Net migration rate:
-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note:repatriation
of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is expected to continue for
several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and Eritrean refugees, who fled to
Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue
to return to their homes (2010 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 17% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 78.99 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
90.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
67.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.8 years
97
male:
53.28 years
female:
58.39 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.07 children born/woman (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
980,000 (2007 est.)
2
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
67,000 (2007 est.)
1
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim 32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)
Languages:
Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna
31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%,
Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%, English (major foreign language taught in
schools) (1994 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
42.7%
male:
50.3%
female:
35.1% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male:
8 years
female:
7 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 41
Government ::Ethiopia
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form:
Ethiopia
local long form:
Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form:
Ityop'iya
former:
Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
abbreviation:
FDRE
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates:
9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference:
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 ethnically based states
(kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations*
(astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar,
Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela
Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale
(Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern
Nations, Nationalities and Peoples)
Independence:
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
National holiday:
National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Constitution:
ratified 8 December 1994, effective 22 August 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law; currently transitional mix of national and regional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)
head of government:
Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet:
Council
of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 constitution;
ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of
People's Representatives
elections:
president
elected by the House of People's Representatives for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 October 2007 (next
to be held in October 2013); prime minister designated by the party in
power following legislative elections
election results:
GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - 79%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
consists of the House of Federation (or upper chamber responsible for
interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues) (108 seats;
members chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the
House of People's Representatives (or lower chamber responsible for
passing legislation) (547 seats; members directly elected by popular
vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held on 23 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:
percent of vote - NA; seats by party - EPRDF 499, SPDP 24, BGPDP 9, ANDP 8, GPUDM 3, HNL 1, FORUM 1, APDO 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Federal Supreme Court
(the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are
recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's
Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits
to the House of People's Representatives for appointment candidates
selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Afar National Democratic
Party or ANDP [Mohammed Kedir]; Arena Tigray; Argoba People's Democratic
Organization or (APDO); Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Party or
(BGPDP) [Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition for Unity and Democratic Party or
CUDP; Ethiopian Federal Democatic Forum or (FORUM), a UDJ-led 8-party
alliance established for the 2010 parliamentary elections; Ethiopian
People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF; Gambella Peoples Unity
Democratic Movement or (GPUDM) [Umod UBONG]; Gurage Nationalities'
Democratic Movement or GNDM; Harari National League or (HNL) [Murad
Abdulhadi]; Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM [BULCHA
Demeksa]; Oromo People's Congress or OPC [IMERERA Gudina]; Somali
Democratic Alliance Forces (SODAF); Somali People's Democratic Party or
SPDP; United Ethiopian Democratic Forces or UEDF [BEYENE Petros]; Unity
for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [Birtukan MEDEKSA, currently
imprisoned]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF; Ogaden National Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa]
chancery:
3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 364-1200
FAX:
[1] (202) 587-0195
consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles
consulate(s):
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Roger A. MEECE
embassy:
Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone:
[251] 11-517-40-00
FAX:
[251] 11-517-40-01
Flag description:
three equal horizontal
bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and
single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a
light blue disk centered on the three bands; green represents hope and
the fertility of the land, yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while
red stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the
blue of the disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity
and equality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia
note:Ethiopia
is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors
of her flag (adopted ca. 1895) were so often adopted by other African
countries upon independence that they became known as the Pan-African
colors; the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996
Economy ::Ethiopia
Economy - overview:
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy
is based on agriculture, accounting for about 45% of GDP, and 85% of
total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought
and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian
economy with exports of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low
prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income. The
war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the
economy in particular coffee production. In November 2001, Ethiopia
qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
initiative, and in December 2005 the IMF forgave Ethiopia's debt. Under
Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term
leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the
industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral
for loans. Drought struck again late in 2002, leading to a 3.3% decline
in GDP in 2003. Although GDP growth has since rebounded, soaring
commodity prices in 2007 and 2008 and the global economic downturn led
to balance of payments pressures, partially alleviated by recent
emergency funding from the IMF.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$76.74 billion (2009 est.)
$71.06 billion (2008 est.)
$63.67 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$34.32 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
11.6% (2008 est.)
11.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$900 (2009 est.)
13
$900 (2008 est.)
$800 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 43.5%
industry:
13.4%
services:
43.1% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
37.9 million (2007)
6
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry:
5%
services:
10% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
38.7% (FY05/06 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
Exports - partners:
Germany 11.8%, Saudi
Arabia 8.7%, Netherlands 8.6%, US 8.1%, Switzerland 7.7%, Italy 6.1%,
China 6%, Sudan 5.5%, Japan 4.4% (2008)
Imports:
$7.093 billion (2009 est.)
$7.206 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles
Imports - partners:
China 16.3%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8.7%, Italy 6%, Japan 4.9%, US 4.5% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.781 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
18
$870.5 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.229 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
07
$3.155 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
birr (ETB) per US dollar - 11.86 (2009), 9.57 (2008), 8.96 (2007), 8.69 (2006), 8.68 (2005)
note:since 24 October 2001, exchange rates are determined on a daily basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank
Communications ::Ethiopia
Telephones - main lines in use:
908,900 (2008)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.168 million (2008)
08
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate
telephone system with the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation
(ETC) maintaining a monopoly over telecommunication services; open-wire,
microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF
frequencies; 2 domestic satellites provide the national trunk service
domestic:
the
number of fixed lines and mobile telephones is increasing from a very
small base; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is only about
5 per 100 persons
international:
country
code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to
Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic
Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 24 repeaters) (2001)
Internet country code:
.et
Internet hosts:
136 (2009)
95
Internet users:
360,000 (2008)
16
Transportation ::Ethiopia
Airports:
63 (2009)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m:
7
1,524 to 2,437 m:
5
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 46
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
1,524 to 2,437 m:
11
914 to 1,523 m:
23
under 914 m:
9 (2009)
Railways:
total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
06
narrow gauge:
681 km 1.000-m gauge
note:railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)
Roadways:
total: 36,469 km
paved:
6,980 km
unpaved:
29,489 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
18
by type:
cargo 8, roll on/roll off 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ethiopia is landlocked and uses ports of Djibouti in Djibouti and Berbera in Somalia
Military ::Ethiopia
Military branches:
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF) (2008)
note:Ethiopia
is landlocked and has no navy; following the secession of Eritrea,
Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for
voluntary military service; no compulsory military service, but the
military can conduct call-ups when necessary and compliance is
compulsory (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 18,485,269
females age 16-49:
19,145,307 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,466,713
females age 16-49:
12,444,706 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 934,523
female:
947,103 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2009)
23
Transnational Issues ::Ethiopia
Disputes - international:
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to
abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC)
delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line
detailed in the November 2006 EEBC Demarcation Statement; the
undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning as a
political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden and
southern Somalia's Oromo region; Ethiopian forces invaded southern
Somalia and routed Islamist Courts from Mogadishu in January 2007;
"Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in Berbera and trade
ties to landlocked Ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered
efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 66,980 (Sudan); 16,576 (Somalia); 13,078 (Eritrea)
IDPs:
200,000
(border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000, ethnic clashes in Gambela, and
ongoing Ethiopian military counterinsurgency in Somali region; most
IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela Provinces) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for heroin
originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as
well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat
(khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and
Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed
financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering
center
