Ethiopia

ETHIOPIA

Information about travelling to Ethiopia

Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Facts about Ethiopia
Population82,544,840 note: es
CapitalAddis Ababa
Time zoneUTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

General info about Ethiopia
Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (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 in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea late in the 1990s ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission in November 2007 remotely demarcated the border by geographical coordinates, but final demarcation of the boundary on the ground is currently on hold because of Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender territory considered sensitive to Ethiopia.
Disease threats
degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis
Languages spoken
Amarigna 32.7%, Oromigna 31.6%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%, English (major foreign language taught in schools) (1994 census)
What about drugs?
transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center
Ethnic division
Oromo 32.1%, Amara 30.1%, Tigraway 6.2%, Somalie 5.9%, Guragie 4.3%, Sidama 3.5%, Welaita 2.4%, other 15.4% (1994 census)
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
4.4% (2003 est.)
Climate
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Resources
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
Economy
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for almost half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income. The war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in December 2005 the IMF voted to forgive Ethiopia's debt to the body. Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again late in 2002, leading to a 3.3% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns helped agricultural and GDP growth recover during 2004-08.
Environment
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management

Cities in Ethiopia

abomsa     addis abeba     addis zemen     adet     adwa     agaro     aksum     areka     asasa     asayita     asbe teferi     asosa     assela     awash     awassa     bahir dar     bako     bati     bedele     bedesa     bichena     boditi     bonga     bure     butajira     dabat     debre birhan     debre sina     debre tabor     debre zeyit     deder     dejen     dembi dolo     dese     dilla     dire dawa     dodola     dubti     fiche     finote selam     gambela     gebre guracha     gedo     gelemso     gewane     gidole     gimbi     ginir     giyon     goba     gondar     gore     guder     hagere hiywet     hagere selam     harer     hirna     huruta     jijiga     jimma     jinka     kembolcha     kemise     kibre mengist     kofele     korem     lalibela     leku     mega     mendi     metehara     metu     mizan teferi     mojo     moyale     nazret     nedjo     negele     robe     sebeta     sendafa     shakiso     shambu     sire     tulu bolo     wendo     were ilu     werota     wonji     yabelo     ziway    

National airlines
Ethiopian Airairline website


Airports in Ethiopia
Kabri DarABK
Bole International AirportADD
AselaALK
Arba MintchAMH
AsosaASO
AwassaAWA
AwarehAWH
AxumAXU
JinkaBCO
BulchiBCY
BeicaBEI
Bahar DarBJR
Debra MarcosDBM
Debra TaborDBT
DembidolloDEM
DegahburDGC
Aba Tenna D YilmaDIR
CombolchaDSE
NeghelliEGL
FinchaFNH
GondarGDQ
GhimbiGHD
GeladiGLC
GambelaGMB
GhinnirGNN
GobaGOB
GoreGOR
JigigaJIJ
JimmaJIM
LalibelaLLI
Misrak GashamoMHJ
Mekane SelamMKS
MakaleMQX
Mizan TeferiMTF
MuiMUJ
MoyaleMYS
MenaMZX
MendiNDM
NekemtNEK
ShakisoSKR
SodduSXU
TippiTIE
WarderWRA


Beer in Ethiopia (0.33l)
Addis Ababa~ 0.3 EUR
Awassa~ 0.4 EUR

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