People

Nationality: Noun and adjective, Ethiopian(s)

Population: 77.8 million (61 per sq km), 2.1% growth (2004 est.)

Life Expectancy: Total 45 years males; females 46 years (2000 est.)

Infant Mortality: 101 deaths per thousand (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara 30%, Tigre 6%-8%, Somali 6%

Languages: Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Oromifa, English, Somali.

Religions: Muslim 40%, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian 45%-50%,
Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs remainder

Education: Elementary attendance 46%, literacy 25%

Government

Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Capital: Addis Ababa

Government System: Federal republic

Head of Government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995, 6 year terms)

Head of State: President Girma Wolde-giorgis

Defense budget: $138 million (FY98/99)

Date of Independence: Never colonized

Economy

GDP: Purchasing power parity $33.3 billion, real growth rate 0%, per capita purchasing power parity $560 (1999 est.)

External debt: $10 billion (1997)

Economic aid: $367 million (FY95/96)

Imports: $1.25 billion (1998)

Import commodities: Food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles

Exports: $420 million (1998)

Export commodities: Coffee, gold, leather products, oilseeds

Labor force: NA

Labor force by sector: Agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 20%

Unit of Currency: 1 Ethiopian birr = 100 cents

Geography

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

Location: Eastern Africa, bound by: Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Kenya

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E

Cities: Capital--Addis Ababa (pop. 2.3 million). Other cities--Dire Dawa (180,000), Harar (138,000), Dessie (105,000), Nazret (100,000), Bahir
Dar (95,000), Awassa (90,000)

Terrain: High plateau, mountains, dry lowland plains

Climate: Temperate in the highlands; hot in the lowlands

Measurements & Codes

Time Zone: GMT+3

ISO Code: ET

Dialing Code: +251