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ETHIOPIA
OFFICIAL NAME
Ethiopia
CAPITAL CITY
Addis Ababa, population 1.91 million
Geography
Location:
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
1,127,127 sq km
land area:
1,119,683 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total:
5,311 km
border countries:
Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
International disputes:
southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden
Climate:
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain:
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
lowest point:
Denakil -125 m
highest point:
Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
41%
forest and woodland:
24%
other:
22%
Irrigated land:
1,620 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; famine
natural hazards:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic note:
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
People
Population:
57,171,662 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
46% (male 13,116,158; female 13,080,276)
15-64 years:
51% (male 14,782,995; female 14,624,779)
65 years and over:
3% (male 728,808; female 838,646) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.72% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
46.05 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
17.53 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note:
repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan, Kenya and Somalia for refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected to continue in 1996; entry into Ethiopia of Sudanese and Somalis fleeing the fighting in their own countries is also continuing in 1996
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.87 male(s)/female
all ages:
1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
122.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
46.85 years
male:
45.71 years
female:
48.02 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Ethiopian(s)
adjective:
Ethiopian
Ethnic divisions:
Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 5%
Languages:
Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population:
35.5%
male:
45.5%
female:
25.3%
Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form:
Ethiopia
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ityop'iya
abbreviation:
FDRE
Data code:
ET
Type of government:
federal republic
note:
on 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; a new constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995
Capital:
Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions:
9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) and 1 federal capital*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumaz; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples; Tigray
Independence:
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
National holiday:
National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)
Constitution:
new constitution promulgated in December 1994
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President NEGASSO Gidada (since NA August 1995) elected by the Council of People's Representatives following the elections of legislators in May and June 1995
head of government:
Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995) designated by the party in power, EPRDF, following the elections of legislators in May and June 1995
cabinet:
Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the Council of People's Representatives
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature
Federal Council:
upper chamber, having NA members, represents the ethnic interests of the regional governments and is elected by the regional assemblies
Council of People's Representatives:
lower chamber, having 550 members, elected by popular vote
note:
both bodies have five-year terms of office; regional and national popular elections were held in May and June 1995; results - EPRDF swept nearly all seats
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, judges are elected by the national legislature
Political parties and leaders:
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), MELES Zenawi
Other political or pressure groups:
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since MENGISTU'S resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos
chancery:
2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 234-2281, 2282
FAX:
[1] (202) 328-7950
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Irvin HICKS
embassy:
Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone:
[251] (1) 550666
FAX:
[251] (1) 552191
Economy
Economic overview:
Ethiopia continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for about half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads, water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected during years of civil strife.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $24.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate:
2.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita:
$400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
48%
industry:
15%
services:
37% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (FY93/94)
Labor force:
18 million
by occupation:
agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$1.2 billion
expenditures:
$1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $707 million (FY93/94)
Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
460,000 kW
production:
1.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
23 kWh (1993)
Agriculture:
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, other vegetables; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export
Exports:
$296 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities:
coffee, leather products, gold
partners:
Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy
Imports:
$972 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities:
capital goods, consumer goods, fuel
partners:
US, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan
External debt:
$3.7 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient:
ODA, $1.036 billion (1993)
Currency:
1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
birr (Br) per US$1 - 6.3200 (December 1995), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992; note - official rate pegged to the US$
Fiscal year:
8 July - 7 July
Transportation
Railways:
total:
681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge:
681 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total:
24,127 km
paved:
3,289 km
unpaved:
20,838 km (1993 est.)
Ports:
none; Ethiopia is landlocked but by agreement with Eritrea may use the ports of Assab and Massawa
Merchant marine:
total:
12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,627 GRT/88,908 DWT
ships by type:
cargo 8, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total:
58
with paved runways over 3 047 m:
2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m:
1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m:
1
with paved runways under 914 m:
6
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m:
2
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m:
5
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m:
9
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m:
29 (1995 est.)
Communications
Telephones:
100,000 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use
domestic:
open wire and microwave radio relay
international:
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios:
9.9 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
1
Televisions:
100,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
Branches:
Ground Forces, Air Force, Police
note:
following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopia's naval facilities remained in Eritrea's possession; current reorganization plans do not include a navy
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49:
12,912,144
males fit for military service:
6,707,180
males reach military age (18) annually:
583,724 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $140 million, 4.1% of GDP (FY93/94)
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