Landscape of Ethiopia
Flag of Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Africa

The land-locked country of Ethiopia is economically reliant on the agricultural industry. The country has a violent political history and still experiences tension within the political sphere. One of the issues facing the Ethiopian people is a shortage of available drinking water, as well as limited access to quality education. The government has difficulty enforcing rule of law and there are many instances of detainees’ ill-treatment and unfair trials.1 1 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html

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About Ethiopia

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936-41. 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. In November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC) issued specific coordinates as virtually demarcating the border and pronounced its work finished. Alleging that the EEBC acted beyond its mandate in issuing the coordinates, Ethiopia has not accepted them and has not withdrawn troops from previously contested areas pronounced by the EEBC as belonging to Eritrea.

Quick Facts

Population
93,877,025 (July 2013 est.)
Area
1,104,300 sq km
ISO Code
ET
Continent
Africa
Government
federal republic
Active Causes
12
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Geography & Environment

Climate

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Terrain

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Natural Resources

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Environmental Issues

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management

People & Society

60 years
Avg. Life Expectancy
39%
Literacy Rate
17% of total population (2011)
Total Urban Population

Languages

Oromo (official regional) 33.8%, Amharic (official) 29.3%, Somali 6.2%, Tigrayan (official regional) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Guragiegna 2%, Af...

Religions

Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.6%, traditional 2.6%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.7% (2007 Census)

Health Expenditure

4.9% of GDP (2010) of GDP

Education Expenditure

4.7% of GDP (2010) of GDP

Economy

$1,200
GDP per Capita (PPP)
NA%
Unemployment Rate
29.2% (FY09/10 est.)
Below Poverty Line

Economic Overview

Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for 46% of GDP and 85% of total employment. Coffee has been a major export crop. The agricultural sector suffers from poor cultivation practices and frequent drought, but recent joint efforts by the Government of Ethiopia and donors have strengthened Ethiopia's agricultural resilience, contributing to a reduction in the number of Ethiopians threatened with starvation. The banking, insurance, and micro-credit industries are restricted to domestic investors, but Ethiopia has attracted significant foreign investment in textiles, leather,...

Causes in Ethiopia

Environment

Approximately 60% of the land in Ethiopia is considered arid. Urbanization and increased human impact threatens the remaining agricultural land. Air pollution, land degradation from agricultural activities, and industrial wastes contaminating water constitute the major problems facing Ethiopia's environment. Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable to climate change.1 Ethiopia also has issues with waste management. One of the solutions to the waste problem in Ethiopia is its first waste-to-power plant that uses the incineration of garbage to power over 30% of the electrical needs of the large city of Addis Ababa.2

Family

Ethiopia is experiencing major population growth. The United Nations has predicted that if Ethiopia continues to grow at its current rate, it could have as many as 120 million people by 2025.1 In 2000, only 6.3% of the population used modern contraceptives, and in 2015, roughly 27.3% used contraceptives. The increase can be attributed to government-supported social marketing programs. Health extension workers have also contributed significantly to community-based efforts.2 Child marriage is a significant problem; 14% of the country’s girls are married by age 15 and 40% are married by age 18.3

Human Rights

Ethiopia has committed numerous human rights violations. The government has reportedly used foreign technology to spy on political activists and journalists within Ethiopia. There is only one telecom company in all of Ethiopia, which makes it very easy to abuse the freedom of the press. Furthermore, the government has responded to peaceful protests with a heavy hand, particularly in the Muslim community. The government and police forces arbitrarily detain and use excessive force against protesters.1 Of the 26,000 people arbitrarily detained during the state of emergency that ended in June 2017, only 10,000 have been released. The government reportedly agrees to protester’s demands to get them to end the protest but does not follow up on their promises.2

Education

Ethiopia’s education system is growing rapidly. The government spends 4.5% of GDP on education. The number of elementary schools nearly tripled from 1996 to 2015. Only half of the students who enroll in the system make it to fifth grade, and only a fifth make it to eighth grade.1 49% of the country is illiterate and the quality of education remains low.2

Poverty

Approximately 30% of Ethiopians live in poverty and the unemployment rate is at 17%. There is relatively little income disparity in the country; a majority of the people living in poverty do not fall under the classification of “extreme poverty,” and there are few enough wealthy people that most households are in similar financial states.1

Religion

Ethiopia has historically been predominantly Christian. Ethiopia’s religious demographic is 43% Ethiopian Orthodox, 34% Muslim, 18.5% Protestant, 3% traditionalist, and 0.7% Catholic.1 The country’s constitution allows for religious freedom, and the separation of church and state is generally well enforced.2

Clean Water

Ethiopia faces water shortages, poor sanitation, and little access to clean water. Only 57% of the population has access to improved drinking water.1 Ethiopia is especially prone to droughts. Water-related deaths are common in Ethiopia. Some common diseases are bronchitis, tonsillitis, diarrhea, vomiting, eye and respiratory infections, and malaria.2 Another issue for sanitation is the fact that 27 million Ethiopians practice open defecation, creating major health concerns.3

Economy

Ethiopia’s economy is primarily based on agricultural output. The country’s economic growth has translated into poverty reduction in both urban and rural areas.1 Ethiopia’s economy and potential for economic growth are severely undermined by corruption. Furthermore, all land is owned by the state and can only be acquired through lease.2 The unemployment rate is at 17%, and approximately 30% of the country lives below the poverty line.3

Government

Ethiopia’s government is a federal parliamentary republic. It remains very corrupt and is ranked among the most unfree economies of the world. There is also a lack of progress in institutional reforms, hindering the government’s efficiency.1 There is a legal framework with accompanying legislation that is intended to fight corruption, but the authorities struggle to enforce the laws. The government has issues with transparency, and many people evade customs and excise laws.2

Health

The Ethiopian government is devoting more funding to health care in order to reach the country’s millennium development goals. UNICEF has trained thousands of healthcare workers to go and reach the remote parts of the country.1 Currently, Ethiopia is at the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.2 Approximately 2.4% of Ethiopians are living with HIV/AIDS,3 and it has been estimated that nearly 1 million children have been orphaned due to the disease.4

Children

Authorities have enacted legislation that bans the adoption of children by foreigners. This was a step taken in an attempt to prevent abuse that children are reported to experience abroad. There are also issues cases of incorrect information given by Ethiopian adoption agencies’, could lead to child trafficking cases.1 UNICEF has been actively involved in developing programs that will focus on child-specific welfare and protection, specifically to help social workers intervene on behalf of children in the justice system, and empower youth, and reduce HIV.2

Animals

The Afrotropical landscape of Ethiopia is filled with grasslands and woodlands. The countryside is known for its diverse array of butterfly species. The country is home to the Walia ibex, the gelada baboon, the spotted hyena, and the golden jackal. Threats to these species include decreasing habitat space, and the fragmentation of remaining habitat.1

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