Ethiopia Development_Livia_Margrethe

Geographical Overview
- Key locations: Barentu, Mendefera, Aksum, and Adigrat.
- Borders: Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, and the Red Sea.
- Major cities: Addis Ababa (capital), Mek'ele, Gonder, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar.
- Regions include: Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR).

Key HDI Metrics
- Composed of:
  - Life Expectancy: Long and healthy life.
  - Education: Good education opportunities.
  - Economic Standard: Decent standard of living.
- Poverty Rate: 30% of the population lives below the national poverty line (less than $2.15/day).
- Employment: Over 66% employed, with approximately 85% in agriculture.
- Agricultural Contribution: Agriculture accounts for 46% of GDP.

Trends in HDI Over Time
- Notable decrease in HDI from peak values: 0.412 to lower values (significant economic and social challenges).

Resource Overview
- Rich in: Gold, potash, natural gas, copper, platinum, tantalum, gemstones, niobium, and soda ash.
- Challenges: Rapid resource consumption driven by:
  - Population pressure.
  - Agricultural expansion.
  - Migration.
  - Rapid urbanization.
  - Climate change and environmental pollution.
- Land Use: 34% agriculture, 11% forested areas.
- Energy Potential: Significant hydroelectric potential (GERD initiative).
- Natural Gas Deposits: Largest deposits in Africa, especially in Ogaden basin.

Progress and Challenges in Education
- 88.7% net enrollment in primary school (2021-2022).
- Only 33.1% complete secondary education.
- 90% of 10-year-olds unable to read or comprehend simple sentences.
- Issues: COVID-19, conflicts, and climate change affected schooling (13 million children out of school).
- Barriers: Gender norms, domestic work, and long travel distances to schools.
- Estimated 3.5 million children at risk of dropping out.

Demographics and Economic Growth
- Second most populous country in Africa with 126.5 million people.
- One of the fastest-growing economies worldwide at a 7.2% growth rate.
- Young population facing unemployment challenges.
- Economy mainly service and agriculture-based, major exports: Coffee and leather.
- Rising public debt concerns.

Demographic Transition
- Currently in the second stage: declining death rates, high birth rates, rapid population growth.
- High youth dependency ratio, impacting education, healthcare, and employment sectors.

Politics from 1974-1991
- Governed by Derg (Marxist-Leninist military junta).
- Ranked 118th out of 167 on the Democracy Index (2022), classified as a "hybrid regime."
- Under PM Abiy Ahmed: concerns over corruption, freedom of speech, and political repression.
- Ethnic federalism: regional states based on ethnicity, fostering representation but also ethnic tensions (Tigray War as an example).

Notable Historical Events
- 1984 famine with lasting impacts lasting over 20 years.
- Civil war during 1974-1991 with military oppression of anti-government protests.

Reasons for Underdevelopment
- Political instability and foreign aid dependency.
- Gender inequality and unaddressed population growth.
- Crisis in rural development despite extensive public sector investment (12.7 billion dollars total).
- Investments aimed at education, agriculture, food security, water, sanitation, and road infrastructure.

Reference Materials
- UNICEF Ethiopia, Wikipedia, various reports on human development, economic data, governance, and demographics.