Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 1

Radios [time series]

9 million (1998 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

100,000 (1983 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

25 (1998)

Televisions [time series]

150,000 (1998 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 birr (Br) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$10 billion (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$367 million (FY95/96)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Ethiopia remains one of the 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. Renewed fighting with Eritrea dims economic prospects for 1999.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

1.32 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

1.32 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 7.58% hydro: 87.12% nuclear: 0% other: 5.3% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period)--7.58 (January 1999), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994) 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 [time series]

$550 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

coffee, leather products, gold, oilseeds (1995)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Germany 26%, Japan 11%, Italy 10%, UK 8%, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia (1996 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

8 July--7 July

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$32.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$560 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

6% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles and aircraft (1994)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Italy 11%, US 11%, Germany 7%, Saudi Arabia 4% (1996 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.9% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

8 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

landlocked?entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993

Irrigated land [time series]

1,900 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Location [time series]

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 states and 2 chartered cities*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumuz (Benishangul-Gumaz); Dire Dawa*; Gambela (Gambella); Harari (Harar); Oromia (Oromiya); Somalia (Somali); Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP); Tigray (Tigre)

Capital [time series]

Addis Ababa

Constitution [time series]

promulgated December 1994

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

ET

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

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 House of People's Representatives elections: president elected by the House 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 House of People's Representatives--NA

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

federal republic

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Judicial branch [time series]

Federal Supreme Court; the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council to the House of People's Representatives for appointment

Legal system [time series]

currently transitional mix of national and regional courts

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House 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) elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA; note--EPRDF won nearly all seats

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Ethiopian People's Revolutionary

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Oromo Liberation Front or OLF; All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnically-based groups have formed since former President MENGISTU'S defeat, including several Islamic militant groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Air Force, Police note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the de jure independence of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession and ships which belonged to the former Ethiopian Navy and based at Djibouti have been sold

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$138 million (FY98/99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.5% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 13,520,302 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,052,710 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 655,290 (1999 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 13,787,810; female 13,703,546) 15-64 years: 51% (male 15,398,123; female 15,141,892) 65 years and over: 3% (male 745,737; female 903,275) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

44.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

21.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

124.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 40.46 years male: 39.22 years female: 41.73 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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 [time series]

59,680,383 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.16% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Somalia over the Ogaden; dispute over alignment of boundary with Eritrea led to armed conflict in 1998, which is still unresolved despite arbitration efforts

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Airports [time series]

84 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 73 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 28,500 km paved: 4,275 km unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 71,264 GRT/94,489 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa, but since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti

Railways [time series]

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