- Flag of Ethiopia
Ethiopia makes up a major portion of the Horn of Africa, the easternmost portion of the continent. Geographically, the country is made up of mountains and plateaus, divided by the Great Rift Valley, and surrounded by lowlands, steppes, or semi-desert areas. The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa. Administratively, Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based states and 2 self-governing administrations: Addis Ababa and Afar.
Climate- tropical monsoon, but with variations depending on elevation
History- 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.
Economy- Ethiopia is one of Africa's poorest nations, and many Ethiopians rely on food aid from abroad. Its economy has evolved from socialism into one that is decentralized and market-oriented. Agriculture accounts for almost 41 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), 80 percent of exports, and 80 percent of the labor force.
Country comparison
| Ethiopia | USA | |
| Population | 76,5 million | 301 million |
| Land mass | 437,376 sq. mi | 3,536,277 sq. mi |
| Average Annual Income | $1,000 | $43,800 |
| Life Expectancy | 49 years | 78 years |
| Access to Safe Water | 22% | 100% |
| Adequate Sanitation | 6% | 100% |
| Under 5 Mortality Rate | 92 deaths/1000 live births | 6.4 deaths/1000 live births |
People of Ethiopia
The population includes many ethnic groups who speak over 80 languages and approximately 200 dialects. Major ethnic groups include the Amhara, the Oromo, and the Tigre.
Religion- Christianity and Islam are Ethiopia's two major religions. Meanwhile, traditional animist religions still prevail among peoples in the far south and in the southwestern foothills.
Language- Ethiopia has 84 indigenous languages. English is the most widely spoken foreign language and is taught in all secondary schools. Primary schools, meanwhile, typically conduct lessons in Amharic.
Health conditions- Ethiopia has an extremely poor health status relative to other low-income countries. Only 50.4% of the population has access to some level of health care. Wars, droughts, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic have all contributed to conditions of extreme poverty and have made a substantial portion of the population - including millions of children - more vulnerable to disease.
Growing number of Orphans
Ethiopia is home to 4 million orphans, or 12 per cent of all children. More than half a million of these were orphaned as a result of AIDS.
The number of orphans and needy children in Ethiopia is rapidly increasing, largely due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2004, it was estimated that 568,000 Ethiopian children had been orphaned due to AIDS. By 2014, this number is expected to rise to 2.1 million.
Culture of Ethiopia
The culture of Ethiopia is multi-faceted. One unique feature is the country's style of painting, found in almost every church in the country and many other public locations. This style seems to have remained almost unchanged for centuries.
Pastimes - Visiting family and friends is the most common pastime in Ethiopia. Ethiopians often celebrate being together through the traditional coffee ceremony - guests are expected to drink three or more cups of coffee while visiting. The country's most popular sport is football (soccer), which children often play using a bundle of rags as the ball. Other popular sports include boxing, basketball, volleyball, tennis and cycling.
Holidays & Festivals - Ethiopians love to celebrate for any reason, from important historical events to major landmarks in the religious calendar to special family days. National holidays are held to celebrate the victory over the Italians at Adwa in 1896, the Liberation from the Italian occupation in 1941, and the downfall of the Derg in 1991. But it is the major Ethiopian Orthodox festivals that represent the people at their most colorful and festive. Click here to find more Ethiopian holidays on Earth Calendar.
Ethiopian Cuisine - Ethiopian cuisine consists of various vegetable or meat side dishes and entrees, served atop injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. Instead of eating with utensils, Ethiopians use the injera to scoop up the entrees and side dishes. Berbere, a combination of powdered chili pepper and other spices (somewhat analogous to Indian curry) is an important ingredient used in many dishes.
Statistics and information from CIA WORLD FACTBOOK, WIKIPEDIA and UNICEF.
