Ethiopia Country Facts

Ethiopia Country Facts

Humanity has many roots, all are in Africa and some in Ethiopia. The oldest finds can be dated back over 54 million years.

This emerges from the darkness of the oldest prehistory and early history countryfrom the 1st century. Immigrants from the southern Arab region founded the empire Aksum, which was under Egyptian and Greek influence. Around 330 Christianity came to Aksum, which was probably consolidated by Syrian monks in the 6th century. Aksum’s political end came in the 10th century,newCapital cities of the empire became Lalibela in the 12th century and Gondar from the 16th century.

Due to its Christian traditions and historical isolation, Ethiopia differs culturally from the other countries in Black Africa. A trip or vacation in Ethiopia, for example in the southwestern part of the country on the Omo River or in the Danakil Desert, is one of the most impressive experiences in Africa.

Not only does coffee come from Ethiopia, music and art are also very traditional in this Christian-influenced Ethiopia. Many Christian influences can be felt in the musical field. The music scene in Ethiopia is extremely lively and varied. In addition to traditional elements, modern pop facets can also be found in the music.

However, Ethiopia is primarily known for painting in the artistic field. The unusual way of painting fascinate visitors when viewing the wonderful works of art right away. The colorful paintings and the imposing techniques are both modern and traditional. With each painting you can feel the close connection to the history of the country. The interesting thing about the works of art is that they have their artistic origin mostly in the North African-Near East cultural area. This culture and the Christian religion are still an integral part of the life and work of the Ethiopian population.

Ethiopia Country Facts

Area: 1,104,300 km² (source: CIA), tenth largest country in Africa (country: 1,000,000 km², water: 104,300 km²)

Population: 90.9 million people (July 2011, COUNTRYAAH.COM). Ethiopia is one of the most populous countries in Africa.

Amhara make up about 40% of the population, other important ethnic groups in Ethiopia are the Somali (6%), Shankella (6%) Afar (4%), Gurage (3%), Sidama (9%) and Agaw (1%). Numerous Nilotic and Omotic peoples still live in the western and southwestern parts of Ethiopia, some of which have preserved their very original way of life. The best known are the plate-lip-wearing Mursi, the Hamar, Ometo and Nuer.

Population density: 82.3 people per square kilometer

Population growth: 3.194% per year (2011, CIA)

Capital: Addis Ababa (approx. 3 million residents, 2006)

Here is a detailed list of the largest cities in Ethiopia

Form of government: Ethiopia has been a federal republic since 1991; this was confirmed in 1995 by the new constitution. The Parliament (Shengo) consists of two chambers: the Federation House with 198 members who are elected by the state for five years and the House of Representatives with 548 members elected by the people for five years. The President is elected by Parliament for a six-year term. The prime minister is usually determined by the strongest party after parliamentary elections.

Administrative division: 9 ethnically based states (Amharic kililoch, single – kilil): Afar, Amara (Amhar), Binshangul Gumuz, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela), Hareri Hizb (Harari), Oromiya (Oromo), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples) and the administrative units (Amharic – astedaderoch, single – astedader) Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.

Prime Minister: Acting Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegne, since August 20, 2012

Head of state: President Girma Wolde-Giorgis, since October 8, 2001

Highest point: Ras Dejen, 4,620 m

Lowest point: Danakil Depression, -125 m

Language: The official language in Ethiopia is Amharic. Semitic languages ​​(approx. 50%) and Kushite languages ​​(approx. 45%); also English (foreign language taught in schools) and Italian. French and Arabic serve as educational and commercial languages.

Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox Church in the north (35-40%), mainly Islam in the east and south (45-50%); also animists (12%) and others (3-8%) such as the Ethiopian Evangelical Church, Catholics, minorities of Hindus and Sikhs.

Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, which combines Christian belief in God, Catholic Saints and Jesus with traditional African belief in spirits and divination, has shaped the country’s history and culture.

Local time: CET + 2 h. In Ethiopia there is no change between summer and winter time.
The time difference to Central Europe is + 2 h in winter and + 1 h in summer.

Telephone number: 00251 or +251

Internet ID :.et

Mains voltage: basically 20 V, 50 Hz throughout the country, voltage fluctuations occur, because of inconsistent plug systems, it is advisable to take a multi adapter with you.

Geography

Ethiopia has the tenth largest area in Africa, about three times the size of Germany.

Here you can find a detailed topographic map of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia borders Djibouti and Somalia in the east, Kenya in the south, Sudan in the west and Eritrea in the north. The national nature of Ethiopia plays a special role in Africa and has numerous different landscapes.

Next to Lesotho, Ethiopia is the highest country on the continent, 50% of its area is higher than 1,200 meters, more than 25% over 1,800 meters, over 5% still reach heights over 3,500 meters.

The highest mountain range is the Simien Mountains, where the highest mountain in Ethiopia is located, the Ras Dejen (4,620 m). Other mountains in the eastern highlands also have several mountain peaks that exceed the four thousand mark.

Nevertheless, most of the highlands have the character of low mountain ranges. The climate here is temperate. The largest lake in Ethiopia, Lake Tana, is located in this region.

The highlands and the incisions of the rivers (Nile, Omo, Takaze) are very steep.
The plateau is surrounded by extremely hot desert (Danakil).

There are numerous lakes in the southern part of the Ethiopian trench, the two largest being Lake Abaya and Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya. The ditch is still between 900 m and 1,800 m high. In the north of this chain of lakes, the ditch widens and gradually merges into the Danakil depression, a plain with scattered volcanoes and salt flats, where the ditch is just 175 m above sea level. Even further north is the Kobar Valley with the lowest point in the country (-125 m)

The Abbai, as the Blue Nile is called in Ethiopia, flows in a large arc through the central part of the western highlands, first to the east and south, then to the west. The river has a steep gradient. There are other rivers in the highlands, the most important of which are all part of the Nile river basin.

The western highlands gradually decline towards the south and west, but steeply into the Ethiopian trench to the east.

The eastern highlands (or Somali plateau) are not as high as the western highlands, but they have peaks of more than 4,000 m with the Amhar Mountains and the Baleg Mountains. The eastern highlands gradually sink to the Indian Ocean in the south and east and to the Gulf of Aden in the northeast. The rivers Shebeli and Jubba, which flow into the Indian Ocean in Somalia, originate on this highland.

Ethiopia had access to the sea between 1952 and 1993, but was lost when Eritrea split off.

Ethiopian population

This map of population distribution in Ethiopia was created by the Worldmapper team. Densely populated areas appear bloated, the area of ​​sparsely populated areas is reduced. The shape of the grid has been preserved; an underlying map with the original geographical extent helps interpret the map. The distorted map should help to present abstract statistical information clearly.

Ethiopia Population by Year (Historical)

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