Basic Country Information
| Country Name | Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Addis Ababa – also the seat of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) |
| BRICS Status | Full Member – Joined BRICS on 1 January 2024 (accepted at the Johannesburg Summit in August 2023) |
| Total Population | Approximately 132 million (World Bank, 2024) |
| Population Growth Rate | Approximately 2.5–2.7% per year (World Bank/UN); among the fastest-growing populations in Africa |
| Rural Population (%) | Approximately 78–80% of the total population (World Bank, 2023); predominantly rural and agriculture-based |
| Urban Population (%) | Approximately 20–22% of the total population (World Bank, 2023); urbanisation rate around 4.8% annually |
| GDP (Nominal) | Approximately USD 150 billion (2024 estimate, World Bank/IMF); Ethiopian Birr (ETB) experienced significant depreciation following the July 2024 exchange-rate liberalisation |
| GDP per Capita | Approximately USD 1,250–1,400 (2024, World Bank/IMF) |
| Agriculture’s Share of GDP | Approximately 35% (2024, World Bank) |
| Agriculture’s Share of Employment | Approximately 65–70% of the workforce (around 35–40 million agricultural workers; ILO/World Bank). Nearly 95% of agricultural output is produced by smallholder farmers. |
| HDI Rank | HDI Value: 0.492 (2023/24, UNDP) – Low Human Development category; approximately 175th globally |
| Official Language(s) | Amharic (Federal Working Language); Afaan Oromoo, Tigrinya, Somali, and Afar are also official in their respective regional states. Ethiopia has more than 80 ethnic groups and over 80 languages. |
| Currency | Ethiopian Birr (ETB); exchange rate liberalised in July 2024, moving from a fixed rate of approximately 55 ETB/USD to a market rate of around 120–130 ETB/USD by the end of 2024 |
Geographic Coordinates & Physical Extent
| Total Geographic Area | Approximately 1,104,300 km² – Africa’s 10th largest country. Ethiopia is landlocked, having lost its coastline following Eritrea’s independence in 1993. |
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| Northernmost Point | 14°53′ N (Eritrea border, Tigray Region) |
| Southernmost Point | 3°24′ N (Kenya border, South Ethiopia Region) |
| Easternmost Point | 48°00′ E (Somalia border, Somali Region) |
| Westernmost Point | 33°00′ E (Sudan border, Benishangul-Gumuz Region) |
| Landlocked Status | Yes. Ethiopia is landlocked and primarily accesses international trade routes through Djibouti. Additional access arrangements involve Eritrea (Assab and Massawa), Somalia (Berbera), and Kenya (Mombasa). |
| Land Border Length | Approximately 5,328 km, sharing borders with six countries: Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan. |
| Highest Point | Ras Dejen (Ras Dashen), approximately 4,550 m above sea level, located in the Simien Mountains of the Amhara Region. It is the highest peak in Ethiopia and the fourth-highest mountain in Africa. |
| Major Rivers | Blue Nile (Abay) – approximately 1,450 km within Ethiopia and originating from Lake Tana, contributing around 80% of the Nile River's water. Other major rivers include the Awash, Omo, Wabe Shebelle, Genale-Dawa, Baro-Akobo, and Tekeze rivers. |
| Great Ethiopian Rift Valley | A major geological feature running northeast to southwest across the country. It contains a chain of lakes including Ziway, Langano, Abijatta, Shala, Awasa, Chamo, and Abaya, and is characterized by fertile volcanic soils supporting agricultural production. |
Administrative Divisions
| Primary Level | Ethiopia is administratively divided into 12 Regional States (Kililoch) and 2 Chartered Cities:
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| Secondary Level | Approximately 100 Zones, which serve as administrative groupings of Woredas (districts). |
| Tertiary Level | More than 1,000 Woredas (districts) and over 15,000 Kebeles (villages/wards), which form the basic units of local administration. |
| Key Agricultural Regions |
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