Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
Rank Order
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Background:
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Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 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 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000.
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Location:
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Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
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Geographic coordinates:
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8 00 N, 38 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 1,127,127 sq km
water: 7,444 sq km
land: 1,119,683 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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Land boundaries:
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total: 5,328 km
border countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
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Terrain:
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high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m
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Natural resources:
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small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 9.9%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 89.45% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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1,900 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
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Geography - note:
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landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean
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Population:
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66,557,553
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 44.8% (male 14,944,168; female 14,871,164)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 17,474,403; female 17,384,817)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 840,057; female 1,042,944) (2003 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 17.3 years
female: 17.4 years (2002)
male: 17.3 years
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Population growth rate:
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1.96% (2003 est.)
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Birth rate:
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39.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Death rate:
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20.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2003 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 103.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 92.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 113.48 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 41.24 years
male: 40.39 years
female: 42.11 years (2003 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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5.55 children born/woman (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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6.4% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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2.1 million (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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160,000 (2001 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian
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Ethnic groups:
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Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
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Religions:
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Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
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Languages:
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Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local short form: Ityop'iya
former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
abbreviation: FDRE
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Government type:
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federal republic
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Capital:
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Addis Ababa
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Administrative divisions:
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9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples)
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Independence:
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oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
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National holiday:
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National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
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Constitution:
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ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995
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Legal system:
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currently transitional mix of national and regional courts
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held 8 October 2001 (next to be held NA October 2007); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections
election results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - 100%
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation or upper chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
note: irregularities and violence at a number of polling stations necessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies; voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe drought
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - OPDO 177, ANDM 134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10, ANDP 8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regional political groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed
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Judicial branch:
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Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [leader NA]; Amhara National Democratic Movement or ANDM [ADDISU Legesse]; Bench Madji People's Democratic Organization or BMPDO [leader NA]; Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [leader NA]; Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an alliance of ANDM, OPDO, SEPDF, and TPLF); Gedeyo People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or GPRDF [leader NA]; Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM [leader NA]; Kafa Shaka People's Democratic Organization or KSPDO [leader NA]; Kembata, Alabaa and Tembaro or KAT [leader NA]; Oromo People's Democratic Organization or OPDO [JUNEDI Sado]; Sidamo People's Democratic Organization or SPDO [leader NA]; South Omo People's Democratic Movement or SOPDM [leader NA]; Tigrayan People's Liberation Front or TPLF [MELES Zenawi]; Walayta, Gamo, Gofa, Dawro, and Konta People's Democratic Organization or WGGPDO [leader NA]; dozens of small parties
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front or ARDUF [leader NA]; Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia or CAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros]
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador KASSAHUN Ayele
chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 686-9551
telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia A. BRAZEAL
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] (1) 550666
FAX: [251] (1) 551328
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors
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Economy - overview:
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Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, 85% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $270 million in 2000/01, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement their income. The war with Eritrea in 1999-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. In November 2001 Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Under Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans. Strong growth in 2002 resulted from good rainfall early in the year, the cessation of hostilities, and renewed foreign aid and debt relief. But drought struck again late in 2002, and the World Food Program (WFP) estimates 14 million Ethiopians need food immediately to survive into 2003. The government estimates than annual growth of 7% is needed to reduce poverty, yet the maintenance of 5% in 2003 will be quite difficult (one estimate is for 1.5% growth).
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $50.6 billion (2002 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.5% (2002 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $750 (2002 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 52%
industry: 11%
services: 37% (2002 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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45% (2002 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 33.7% (1995)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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40 (1995)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4% (2003 est.)
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Labor force:
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NA
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
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Unemployment rate:
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NA%
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $600 million (2002 est.)
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Industries:
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food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.7% (2001 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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1.713 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 1.3%
hydro: 97.6%
other: 1.1% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.594 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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214,000 bbl (January 2002 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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12.46 billion cu m (January 2002 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
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Exports:
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$433 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
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Exports - partners:
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Djibouti 13.2%, Italy 9.4%, Japan 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 9.0% (2001)
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Imports:
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$1.63 billion f.o.b. (2001)
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Imports - commodities:
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food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles
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Imports - partners:
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Saudi Arabia 29.3%, Italy 7.2%, India 6.7%, US 4.2%, Russia (2001)
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Debt - external:
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$5.3 billion (2001 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$308 million (FY00)
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Currency:
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birr (ETB)
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Currency code:
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ETB
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Exchange rates:
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birr per US dollar - NA (2002), 8.4575 (2001), 8.2173 (2000), 7.9423 (1999), 7.1159 (1998)
note: since 24 October 2001 exchange rates are determined on a daily basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank
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Fiscal year:
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8 July - 7 July
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Railways:
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total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2002)
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Highways:
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total: 24,145 km
paved: 3,290 km
unpaved: 20,855 km (1998)
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Waterways:
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none
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Ports and harbors:
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none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa; since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti for nearly all of its imports
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Merchant marine:
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total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 81,933 GRT/101,287 DWT
ships by type: cargo 5, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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83 (2002)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 69
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 21 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
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