Population and Demographic Characteristics of Ethiopia

UNIT FOUR: POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA

4.1 Concept of Human Population

4.1.1 Concepts of Human Population

  • Definition of Population:
  • Refers to the total number of human inhabitants in a specific area (city, country, continent) at a given time.
  • Importance of Studying Human Population:
  • Explored by disciplines like geography, biology, sociology, medical science, and history.
  • Population Geography:
  • A branch focusing on spatial analysis of human population and interactions with the environment.
  • Reasons for Studying Human Population:
  1. Dynamic Nature:
    • Population shows significant quantitative and qualitative changes, impacting socio-economic development.
  2. Policy Implications:
    • Changes influence government policies on health, education, housing, etc.
  3. Planning and Development:
    • Enhances knowledge for effective planning and development.
  4. Socio-Economic Activities:
    • Population provides labor for both productive and non-productive sectors.
    • It acts as the main productive force crucial for socio-economic development.

4.2 Trends of Population Growth in Ethiopia

4.2.1 Trends of Population Growth in Ethiopia

  • Current Population:
  • Ethiopia: second most populous in Africa, 12th in the world.
  • 2020 estimate: 114.9 million (UN, 2021), growth rate of 2.6%.
  • Historical Population Growth:
  • 1900: 11.8 million
  • 1920: 13 million
  • 1960: 23.5 million
  • 1990: doubled to 46.8 million
  • 2007: 73.8 million
  • Doubling Time:
  • Pre-1960: 60 years.
  • Post-1960: 30 years (1960–1990).
  • Growth Rate Trends:
  • Before 1920: <1.0% due to high mortality rates.
  • 1920-1950: Growth increased, reached 2.0% by 1950.
  • 1950s-1980s: Growth rose due to disease control, peaking at ~3.0% in the late 1980s.

4.3 Population Composition

  • Population Composition:
  • Classification based on age, sex, marital status, economic activities, etc.

A. Age Structure

  • Definition:
  • Classification of population into different age groups affecting socio-economic development.
  • Importance in Planning:
  • Critical for economic, cultural, and regional development.
  • Tools for Understanding Age Structure:
  1. Age Groups:
    • Five-year intervals: 0-4, 5-9, …, 65+.
    • Broad groups: Young (0-14), Working (15-64), Elderly (65+).
  2. Population Pyramid:
    • Graphical distribution by age and sex.
    • Broad base indicates high young population in developing countries (e.g., Ethiopia).
    • Shapes differ between developing (triangular) and developed (rectangular) countries.

B. Age Dependency Ratio (ADR)

  • Definition:
  • Ratio of non-working (dependents) to working-age (economically active) population.
  • Purpose:
  • Measures dependency burden.
  • 2020 ADR in Ethiopia:
  • 76.8/100 means 76.8 dependents for every 100 working individuals.

4.4 Population Distribution

  • Definition:
  • How population is spread over a geographical area.
  • Population Density:
  • Average number of people per square kilometer.
  • Distribution in Ethiopia:
  • Uneven due to climatic and geographical factors.
  • 77.5% live in highlands due to favorable conditions for living.

Factors Affecting Population Distribution in Ethiopia

A. Physical Factors

  1. Climate:
  • Influences living conditions.
  1. Soil Fertility:
  • Highlands: Fertile; Lowlands: Poor.
  1. Vegetation Cover:
  • Better in highlands.
  1. Natural Water Supply:
  • More available in highlands.
  1. Tropical Diseases:
  • Lowlands have high prevalence, discouraging settlement.

B. Human Factors

  1. Economic Activity Types:
  • Controls population capacity.
  1. Urban and Industrial Growth:
  • Attract people to urban areas, redistributing population.
  1. Historical Migration Patterns:
  • Shaped population distribution historically.