Country Profile
Ethiopia |
Capital: |
Addis Ababa |
2004 Population: |
72,433,500
|
Pop. Growth Rate: |
2.36% |
Life Expectancy: |
48.83 years |
Literacy: |
42.7% |
Area – Sq. KM: |
1,127,127 |
Languages: |
86 Total – Amharic (spoken by 65% of population); Tigrinya; Oromigna; Guaragigna; Somali; Arabic; many other local languages; English is taught in most schools |
Languages with Scriptures: |
6 Bible, 12 New Testament |
Ethnic Groups: |
113 Total – Major groups: Amhara; Ittu; Tulama; Boran, Southern Oromo; Tigrinya |
Major Religions: |
Christian 65.02%, Muslim 31.0%, traditional ethnic 2.98, non-religious 1.0 |
Ethiopia is located in eastern Africa, west of Somalia. The landlocked country is bordered by Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan. Most of Ethiopia is a high plateau dissected by deep gorges, many of which become rushing rivers at the height of the rainy season. These include the upper reaches of the Blue Nile. Drought prone low lands and deserts along the Red Sea coast surround the mountain plateau. The climate varies according to altitude. Three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean.
The Ethiopian empire traces its roots back to the Queen of Sheba. The last emperor was Haile Selassie who ruled from 1930 until he was overthrown by a military coup in 1974. The next government abolished parliament adopted a Russian-style Marxism philosophy. 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, known as the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia’s first multiparty elections were held in 1995. The entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the independence of Eritrea in 1993, making Ethiopia the world’s largest landlocked nation. The two and a half year border war ended with a peace treaty on December 2000.
Ethiopia’s poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for half of the GNP, 60% of exports and 80% of total employment. Since the terrible famine of 1984/85, which killed over one million people, Ethiopia has been a recipient of western aid. However, large influxes of refugees from Somalia and Sudan have created further challenges. At times, the constant civil strife makes the provision of relief to those in desperate need almost impossible. Roughly, one-third of Ethiopian children are unable to attend school. Ethiopia is currently ranked as the 11th poorest country in the world with an estimated 76% of the population living on less than $1.00 per day.
North Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations, dating back to the fourth century. The Marxist government sought to eradicate religion and persecuted Christians. Nevertheless, many churches grew, and now some hold several services each Sunday to accommodate all those who want to worship. The transitional government upholds freedom of worship, though there is still persecution in some areas. Of the 113 people groups, only ten are more than 3% evangelical. Muslims are building many new mosques, sects reproduce and Jehovah’s Witness are active. Ethiopia is truly "ripe unto harvest" and Operation Harvest is sending labors into the harvest field.
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