FACTS ABOUT ETHIOPIA

ETHIOPIA

Is one of the few African countries never to lose its independence, is as large as France and Spain combined, and has one of the richest histories on the African continent.

CAPITAL CITY

Addis Abeba was settled in 1887 and christened by empress Taitu, the wife of Emperor Menelik II. It has an average temperature of 160c. It is a host to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Several other international organizations have their head quarters and branch offices in the Capital. Addis Abeba is also the center of commerce and industry. The population is estimated to be 10 million according to the 2023 estimation.

LOCATION AND BOUNDARY

Ethiopia is strategically located in the Horn of Africa, bordered by the Sudan on the west, South Sudan on the South West, Djibouti on the East, Somalia on the south east, Eritrea to the North and Kenya to the South. Its proximity to the Middle East and Europe, together with its easy access to the major ports of the region, enhances its international trade.

GOVERNMENT

Ethiopia is an independent republic operating under the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The president is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government.

LAND AND POPULATION

Ethiopia covers an area of 1,133,380 sq km. The heart of the country is a high tableland, known as the Ethiopian plateau that covers more than half the total area of the country. The plateau is split diagonally in a northwestern to southeastern direction by the Great Rift Valley. Although the average elevation of the plateau is about 1,680meter, it is cut by many rivers and deep valleys, some of which are 600meter below the level of the plateau. The area is capped by mountains, the highest of which is Ras Dashen(4,543masl). These heights and indentations occur in northern Ethiopia, in the region surrounding Lake Tana (the Lake in which the Blue Nile outpours). Occupations in agriculture support about 83% of all Ethiopians. Most agriculture consists of subsistence farming. The population is concentrated heavily in the central plateau region, where agricultural resources are most developed. The ethnic composition is extremely diverse, as a result of racial and linguistic integration that began in ancient times.

POPULATION SIZE AND THE PEOPLE (2007/08)

The population of Ethiopia estimates 127 million, yielding a higher density of per km2. The Amhara, and the related Tigreans, both of which are highland peoples of partly Semetic origin. They occupy the north western Ethiopian highlands and the area north of Addis Abeba. The OROMO, a pastoral and agricultural people who live mainly in central, south east & western Ethiopia, constitute nearly 34% of the population. The Somali, who live in the east and southeast, notably in the Ogaden region, are about equal in number to the Omotic people. The Afar inhabits the semi desert plains east of the highlands. The non indeginious population includes YEMENIS, INDIANS, ARMENIANS and GREEEKS.

CLIMATE

The climate of Ethiopia varies mainly according to the elevation. The tropical zone below approximately 1,800m has an average annual temperature of 270C and receives less than about 500mm of rain annually. The sub tropical zone, which includes most of the highland plateau and is between about 1,800m and 2,400m in elevation, has an average temperature of about 220C with an annual rainfall ranging from about 500 to 1,500mm. Above approximately 2,400m is a temperate zone with an average temperature of about 160C and an annual rainfall between about 1,300 and 1,800mm. The principal rainy season occurs between mid-June and September, followed by a dry season that may be interrupted in February or March by a short rainy season.

ENTRY POINT BY AIR

Bole International Airport, Addis Abeba, is the only entry point by Air. Airports to serve as an entry points are Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar and Mekelle international airports. Domestic airpors include: Gondar, Lalibela, Axum, Arba Minch, Asosa, Jinka, Jimma, Goba, Dessie, Semera, Gode and Jigjiga.

ENTRY POINT BY RAIL

Dewele is only entry point for the rail, on the Dijibouti border and arrivals undergo full customs and immigration checks. The rail way, with day and night trains, runs from Addis Abeba to Dijibouti via Nazaret, Awash Station and Dire Dawa.

ENTRY POINT BY ROAD

Moyale and Omorate (from Kenya), Humera and Metema (from Sudan), Dewele and Galafi (from Dijibouti), Humera, Rama and Bure (from Eritera) and Toguchale, Teferi-ber, Kebri-beyah & Dolo-odo (from Somalia). All have full customs and immigration checks.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone (Mobile & Land line), telex, fax, internet (Mobile data and WiFi) and air mail services connect Addis Abeba to all parts of the world. Services are available at the General Post Office and its many branches, as well as in the main hotels. International direct dialing is available from all major centers in the country.

LANGUAGE

Amharic is the working language of the government in Ethiopia, which has a distinctive alphabet, while English, Italian, French, and Arabic are also commonly used. In Ethiopia, there are 76 languages and 200 dialects. Indigenous languages are likely to be spoken outside of the main cities and towns.

CURRENCY

The local currency is the Ethiopian birr, made up of 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 & 200 birr. There are six different coins: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50cents and 1Birr.

CURRENCY REGULATIONS

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency imported into Ethiopia, but it must be declared on arrival, using a currency declaration form. Foreign currency may be changed only at authorized banks and hotels. The currency declaration form will be required by Customs on departure in case you want to change back the remaining Ethiopian currency to any of the foreign currency.

DRIVING

Drivers require a valid International Driving License, which can be obtained by exchanging your local license at the Transport and Communications office in Addis Abeba. Visitors can recover their original driving licenses a day or so prior to departure. Those with their own vehicles will require a permit from the Ministry of Transport. Driving is on the right hand side.

ENERGY (POWER)

Ethiopia uses 220 Volts and 50Hz. It is best to bring your own round, two-prong adapter and transformer if necessary.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

All visitors (including infants) are required to posses a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or been in transit through a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival to Ethiopia. Malaria is endemic throughout the country. Visitors should begin taking a recommended chloroquine-based prophylactic medicine before their arrival to the malaria risk areas and continue taking them after their departure. In addition, medication for chloroquine-resistant malaria is a wise precaution.

MEDICAL SERVICES

Higher standard medical facilities are limited to the capital city, Addis Abeba and any other medical facilities outside the capital are generally poor standard. Existing facilities are sorely over taxed. Tourists and non-citizen residents should go to private hospitals and clinics. Contact your Embassy for referral to recommended doctor. Air rescue services are available.

MAJOR CITIES

Ethiopia’s other important centers of trade and industries are; Hawassa, Dire Dawa, Gondar, Dessie, Nazareth, Jimma, Harrar, BahirDar, Mekele, Debre Markos and Nekemt. All these towns are connected to Addis Abeba by asphalt and gravel roads and most of them have good infrastructure facilities, such as tourist standard hotels and airports.

NATIONAL PARKS

• AWASH NATIONAL PARK, Oromia & Afar region
• SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Amhara region
• OMO NATIONAL PARK, Southern Nations Nationalities & People Regional State
• ABIJATA-SHALLA NATIONAL PARK, Oromia region
• GAMBELA NATIONAL PARK, Gambela region
• NECHISAR NATIONAL PARK, Southern Nations Nationalities & People Regional State
• BALE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Oromia region
• YANGUDI-RASSA NATIONAL PARK, Afar region
• MAGO NATIONAL PARK, Southern Nations Nationalities & People Regional State

MAMMALS

There are 284 species of mammals of which 31 are endemic and 7 are large mammals- Gelada Baboon, Ethiopian Wolf, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Mountain Nyala, Swaynes Hartbeast & Walia Ibex.

BIRDS

There are 861 species of birds of which 16 are endemic to Ethiopia.

PLANTS

There are 7000 species of plants of which 1,100 are endemic to Ethiopia.

CALENDAR AND TIME

Ethiopia uses the Julian calendar which divides the year in 12 months of 30 days each, with the remaining five (or six days in a leap year) constituting the short 13th month of "pagume" and the word pagume comes from a Greek word meaning “ADDITIONAL“. The Ethiopian New Year commences on the 11th or 12th of September & the difference comes in a leap year. Ethiopia is in the GMT + 3time zone. Business hours vary according to the nature of the business. Normally government office and most other office hours are 8:30AM to 12:30PM and 1:30PM to 5:30PM from Monday through Thursday. Working hours on Friday are 8:30Am to 11:30Am and 1:30PM to 5:30PM. Banks are open from 8:30AM to 7PM from Monday through Saturday.