Ethiopia
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
federal republic
Ethiopia as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 87 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
15 fieldsLand useshare of 1,127,127 sq km
International disputes
southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden
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
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
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(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.)
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.)
Languages
Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali, Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Government
Federal republic; 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; 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
22 fieldsName 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Flag
- 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
Economy
Ethiopia continues to face difficult economic | problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in | Africa.
21 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1993 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 460,000 kW
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.
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
Exchange rates
- birr (Br) per US$1 - 6.3200 (December 1995), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93);
- fixed at 2.070 before 1992;
- note - official rate pegged to the US$
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 58 in all
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
- narrow gauge:
- 681 km 1.000-m gauge
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.)
Communications
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
9 fieldsTelephone 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)
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.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Ethiopia.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/ethiopia/1996.