Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
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Geographic coordinates:
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8 00 N, 38 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 1,104,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 27
land:
1 million sq km
water:
104,300 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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Land boundaries:
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total: 5,328 km
border countries:
Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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Current Weather
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
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Terrain:
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high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point:
Ras Dejen 4,533 m
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Natural resources:
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small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 10.01%
permanent crops:
0.65%
other:
89.34% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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2,900 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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110 cu km (1987)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 5.56 cu km/yr (6%/0%/94%)
per capita:
72 cu m/yr (2002)
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Natural hazards:
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geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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88,013,491
country comparison to the world: 14
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.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 46.2% (male 20,289,078/female 20,374,069)
15-64 years:
51.1% (male 22,026,024/female 22,977,746)
65 years and over:
2.7% (male 1,006,149/female 1,340,425) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 16.8 years
male:
16.5 years
female:
17.2 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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3.202% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
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Birth rate:
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43.34 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
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Death rate:
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11.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
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Net migration rate:
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-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 88
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.)
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 17% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
4.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 78.99 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 17
male:
90.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
67.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 55.8 years
country comparison to the world: 197
male:
53.28 years
female:
58.39 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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6.07 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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2.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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980,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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67,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:
rabies
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis (2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective:
Ethiopian
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Ethnic groups:
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Oromo 32.1%, Amara 30.1%, Tigraway 6.2%, Somalie 5.9%, Guragie 4.3%, Sidama 3.5%, Welaita 2.4%, other 15.4% (1994 census)
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Religions:
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Christian 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim 32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8% (1994 census)
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Languages:
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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)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
42.7%
male:
50.3%
female:
35.1% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 8 years
male:
8 years
female:
7 years (2007)
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Education expenditures:
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6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 41
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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federal republic
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Capital:
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name: Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates:
9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference:
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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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)
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Independence:
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oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
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National holiday:
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National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
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Constitution:
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ratified 8 December 1994, effective 22 August 1995
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Legal system:
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based on civil law; currently transitional mix of national and regional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
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%
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Legislative branch:
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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
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Judicial branch:
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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)
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Political parties and leaders:
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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]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF; Ogaden National Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa]
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel ASSEFA
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
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$76.74 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$71.06 billion (2008 est.)
$63.67 billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$34.32 billion (2009 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
11.6% (2008 est.)
11.1% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
|
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$900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
$900 (2008 est.)
$800 (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 43.5%
industry:
13.4%
services:
43.1% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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37.9 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 16
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 85%
industry:
5%
services:
10% (2009 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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NA%
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Population below poverty line:
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38.7% (FY05/06 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%:
25.6% (2005)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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30 (2000)
country comparison to the world: 112
40 (1995)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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23.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
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Budget:
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revenues: $4.71 billion
expenditures:
$5.397 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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31.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
31% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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8.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
44.4% (2008 est.)
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Central bank discount rate:
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NA%
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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8% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 128
7% (31 December 2006)
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Stock of money:
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$4.93 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
$4.229 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$3.603 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
$3.258 billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit:
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$NA (31 December 2008)
$6.694 billion (31 December 2006)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA
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Agriculture - products:
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cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, qat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish
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Industries:
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food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals processing, cement
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Industrial production growth rate:
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9.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
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Electricity - production:
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3.46 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
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Electricity - consumption:
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3.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
|
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production:
|
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
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Oil - consumption:
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38,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
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Oil - exports:
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
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Oil - imports:
|
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33,590 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
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Oil - proved reserves:
|
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430,000 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
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Natural gas - consumption:
|
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
|
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24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
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Current account balance:
|
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-$2.243 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
-$1.806 billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$1.657 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$1.555 billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
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Exports - partners:
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China 10.87%, Germany 9.75%, Saudi Arabia 7.39%, US 7.21%, Netherlands 6.38%, Switzerland 5.33%, Sudan 4.35%, Belgium 4% (2009)
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Imports:
|
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$7.093 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$7.206 billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles
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Imports - partners:
|
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China 14.73%, Saudi Arabia 8.41%, India 7.65%, US 4.3% (2009)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
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$1.781 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
$870.5 million (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
|
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$4.229 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$3.155 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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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
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| Communications ::Ethiopia |
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
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908,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 84
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
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3.168 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
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Telephone system:
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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)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)
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Television broadcast stations:
|
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1 (plus 24 repeaters) (2001)
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Internet country code:
|
|
.et
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Internet hosts:
|
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136 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 195
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Internet users:
|
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360,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
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| Transportation ::Ethiopia |
Airports:
|
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63 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 78
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Airports - with paved runways:
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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)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
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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)
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Railways:
|
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total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the 781 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
country comparison to the world: 106
narrow gauge:
681 km 1.000-m gauge
note:
railway is under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia but is largely inoperable (2008)
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Roadways:
|
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total: 36,469 km
country comparison to the world: 94
paved:
6,980 km
unpaved:
29,489 km (2004)
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Merchant marine:
|
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total: 9
country comparison to the world: 118
by type:
cargo 8, roll on/roll off 1 (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
|
|
Ethiopia is landlocked and uses ports of Djibouti in Djibouti and Berbera in Somalia
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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
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Military service age and obligation:
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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)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 18,485,269
females age 16-49:
19,145,307 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 11,466,713
females age 16-49:
12,444,706 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 934,523
female:
947,103 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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1.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
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| Transnational Issues ::Ethiopia |
Disputes - international:
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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
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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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)
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Illicit drugs:
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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
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