Ethiopia

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

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $140 million, 4.1% of GDP (FY93/94)

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.)

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.) Defense

Agriculture

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

Budget

revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $707 million (FY93/94)

Currency

1 birr (Br) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $1.036 billion (1993)

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.

Electricity

capacity: 460,000 kW production: 1.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

birr (Br) per US$1 - 6.3200 (December 1995), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992; note - official rate pegged to the US$

Exports

$296 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: coffee, leather products, gold partners: Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy

External debt

$3.7 billion (1993 est.)

Fiscal year

8 July - 7 July

GDP

purchasing power parity - $24.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: 48% industry: 15% services: 37% (1993 est.)

GDP per capita

$400 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.7% (1995 est.)

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

Imports

$972 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, fuel partners: US, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

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%

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

Climate

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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 coordinates

8 00 N, 38 00 E

Geographic note

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

International disputes

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

Irrigated land

1,620 sq km (1989 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% meadows and pastures: 41% forest and woodland: 24% other: 22%

Location

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash

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

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

Capital

Addis Ababa

Constitution

new constitution promulgated in December 1994

Data code

ET

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

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

FAX

[1] (202) 328-7950

FAX

[251] (1) 552191

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

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

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, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are elected by the national legislature

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature

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

National holiday

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

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

Political parties and leaders

Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), MELES Zenawi

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

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

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.)

Birth rate

46.05 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

17.53 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

122.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 46.85 years male: 45.71 years female: 48.02 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian

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

Population

57,171,662 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.72% (1996 est.)

Religions

Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 5%

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.)

Total fertility rate

7 children born/woman (1996 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.)

Highways

total: 24,127 km paved: 3,289 km unpaved: 20,838 km (1993 est.)

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.)

Ports

none; Ethiopia is landlocked but by agreement with Eritrea may use the ports of Assab and Massawa

Railways

total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge