Ethiopia

Geography Task 1

Location

located in the horn of Africa, close to middle eastern countries and europe. Has easy access to the major ports of the region allowing international trade

neighbouring countries?

• Sudan (west)

• Somalia

• Djibouti

• Eritrea

• Kenya

Coordinates

9.14° North

40.49°East

Size and area

1.112 million km²

population

123.4 million people

2.5% annual growth change

Population strucutre

mainly a booming population, significant increase in new births. 2nd most populated country in Africa.

Low life expectancy of 64 years

capital of ethiopia

Addis Ababa

Major cities

• mekele

• gondar

• harar

• bahir dar

• dire dawa

Government

Federal republic, led by Prime minister Abiy Ahmed.

The PM is designated by the party which wins a majority of seats in the 657 seat House of people’s representatives.

5 year terms

Geography and terrain

Climate ranges from equatorial rainforest with high rainfall and humidity in the south to desert like condition in the north.

1. alpine vegetated cool zone, 2600 meters above sea level

2. temperate woina dega zone, majority of population

3. hot gola zone, tropical and arid regions

Natural resources

gold, platinum, iron, nickel - with some natural gases

land use

34% used for agriculture

15% forest land

population distribution

80% in rural areas

1/3 in oromiya

25% in amhara

132 people per km²

natural hazards and disasters

• droughts, epidemics, flood, conflict, earthquakes

• pests, wildfire, landslides

THe main ethiopian rift is active and susceptible to earthquakes.

Top concerns are droughts, floods

Environmental issues

• land degradation, soil erosion, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, desertification, recurrent droughts, flood

• water/air pollution

• endangered animals: ethiopian wolf

• 2018 forest landscape integrity index is 7.16/10 - ranked 50th globally

Ethnic groups

• The Oromo, Amhara, Tigrean people makes up more than 75% of population

• contains 80 different ethnic groups

language

Amharic (29% of population)

religion

christianity up to 67.3%