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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 0, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios [time series]

11.75 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use domestic: open wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide the national trunk service 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

365,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4,000 (1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

25 (1999)

Televisions [time series]

320,000 (1997)

Economy

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 [time series]

$10 billion (1997)

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

$367 million (FY95/96)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought and poor cultivation practices, and as many as 4.6 million people need food assistance annually. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy, and Ethiopia earned $267 million in 1999 by exporting 105,000 metric tons. According to current estimates, coffee contributes 10% of Ethiopia's GDP. More than 15 million people (25% of the population) derive their livelihood from the coffee sector. Other exports include live animals, hides, gold, and qat. In December 1999, Ethiopia signed a $1.4 billion joint venture deal to develop a huge natural gas field in the Somali Regional State. The war with Eritrea has forced the government to spend scarce resources on the military and forced the government to scale back ambitious development plans. Foreign investment has declined significantly. Government taxes imposed in late 1999 to raise money for the war will depress an already weak economy. The war has forced the government to improve roads and other parts of the previously neglected infrastructure, but only certain regions of the nation have benefited.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.265 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.36 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 7.35% hydro: 89.34% nuclear: 0% other: 3.31% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period) - 8.2 (January 2000), 7.5030 (1998), 6.8640 (1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995) 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]

$420 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities [time series]

coffee, gold, leather products, oilseeds

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 22%, Japan 12%, Italy 9%, UK 5% (1997 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

8 July - 7 July

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

purchasing power parity - $33.3 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 46% industry: 12% services: 42% (1998 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $560 (1999 est.)

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

0% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.25 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 10%, US 9%, Japan 8%, Jordan 5% (1997 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]

4% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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%

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [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 [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, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi) and 2 chartered cities*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara, Benishangul/Gumaz; Dire Dawa*; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Tigray

Capital [time series]

Addis Ababa

Constitution [time series]

ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Tibor P. NAGY embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] (1) 550666 FAX: [251] (1) 551328

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2281 FAX: [1] (202) 328-7950

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995) head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for 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 NA June 1995 (next to be held NA May 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, IOM (observer), 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 May 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - EPRDF 483, regional political groupings 46, independents 8; note - 11 seats unconfirmed note: many opposition groups, including the Oromo Liberation Front, boycotted the election

National holiday [time series]

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

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

All-Amhara People's Organization or AAPO [Dr. ASRAT Woldeyes]; Coalition of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy or CAFPD [leader NA]; Ethiopian Democratic Union or EDU [leader NA]; Ethiopian Movement for Democracy, Peace, and Unity or EMDPU [GOSHU Walde]; Ethiopian National Democratic Party or ENDP [NEBIYU Samuel, FEKADU Gedamu]; Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi]; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [GELASA Dilbo]; dozens of small parties

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

Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnically based groups have formed since the defeat of the former MENGISTU regime in 1991, including several Islamic militant groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936-41. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SALASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea that erupted in May 1998 has strengthened the ruling coalition, but has hurt the nation's economy.

Military

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

Ground Forces, Air Force, Police, Militia note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the 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 [time series]

$138 million (FY98/99)

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

2.5% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 14,184,072 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 7,392,677 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 686,801 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 47% (male 15,167,395; female 14,977,346) 15-64 years: 50% (male 16,195,637; female 15,987,089) 65 years and over: 3% (male 816,011; female 973,974) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

17.63 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

101.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 45.17 years male: 44.41 years female: 45.94 years (2000 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]

0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several years; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes

Population [time series]

64,117,452 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.76% (2000 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.07 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

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, principally to Djibouti and Somalia [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

85 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 74 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,915 GRT/112,634 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

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; since May 1998 Ethiopia has expended considerable effort to repair and maintain the lines