1998 Edition

Area

total: 1,127,127 sq km land: 1,119,683 sq km water: 7,444 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m

Environment-current issues

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography-note

landlocked-entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993

Irrigated land

1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

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

Land use

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 25% other: 22% (1993 est.)

Location

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Natural resources

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas

Terrain

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Age structure

0-14 years: 46% (male 13,468,783; female 13,398,500) 15-64 years: 51% (male 15,095,357; female 14,812,537) 65 years and over: 3% (male 734,471; female 880,703) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

44.69 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

21.25 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

125.65 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 40.85 years male: 39.76 years female: 41.97 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 45.5% female: 25.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian

Net migration rate

-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 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 slowly in 1998; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting in their own countries, began returning to their homes in 1998

Population

58,390,351 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.21% (1998 est.)

Religions

Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%

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: 0.83 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.88 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) and 1 federal capital*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benishangul/Gumaz; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples; Tigray

Constitution

promulgated December 1994

Country name

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: YeItyop'iya abbreviation: FDRE

Data code

ET

Executive branch

chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995) head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 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 elections: president elected by the Council of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote by the Council of People's Representatives-NA

FAX

[1] (202) 328-7950 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] (1) 550666

[251] (1) 552191

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; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

Government type

federal republic

Independence

oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, 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 the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2281, 2282

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are elected by the national legislature Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] Political pressure groups and leaders: Oromo Liberation Front or OLF; All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed since MENGISTU'S defeat, including several Islamic militant groups

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the Council of People's Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms); note-the upper chamber represents the ethnic interests of the regional governments elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) and the Federal Parliamentary Assembly assumed legislative power on 21 August 1995 election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-NA; note-EPRDF won nearly all seats

National capital

Addis Ababa

National holiday

National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, other vegetables; hides, cattle, sheep, goats

Budget

revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415 million (FY96/97)

Currency

1 birr (Br) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$5.2 billion (1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $367 million (FY95/96)

Economy-overview

Ethiopia remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for more than 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.

Electricity-capacity

464,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

20 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

1.143 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period)-6.9530 (February 1998), 6.8080 (September 1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93) note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr

Exports

total value: $418 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: coffee, leather products, gold (1995) partners: Germany 32%, Japan 14%, Djibouti 7%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Italy 8% (1994)

Fiscal year

8 July-7 July Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$29 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 55% industry: 12% services: 33% (1995 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$530 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

5% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $1.23 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles and aircraft (1994) partners: Saudi Arabia 15%, Italy 11%, US 12.3%, Germany 8% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement

Inflation rate-consumer price index

0% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: NA by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

9.9 million (1992 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)

Telephones

100,000 (1983 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

100,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Airports

86 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 76 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 20 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 28,500 km paved: 4,275 km unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked but by agreement with Eritrea may use the ports of Assab and Massawa

Merchant marine

total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 73,775 GRT/98,279 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1997 est.)

Railways

total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals

Military 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

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$126 million (budget for FY97/98)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 13,240,029 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 6,900,452 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 630,087 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden

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 EUROPA ISLAND (possession of France)