Country Information
1) The Flag shall have the colours: green at the top, yellow at the middle and red at the bottom.
2) The colours shall be bright and basic.
3) The colours shall be structured horizontally and be of the same size. The length of the Flag shall be twice its width.
4) The Emblem shall be a blue circle with depictions:
a) straight and equal lines of yellow that come from all directions and join each other;
b) a star formed by the straight and equal lines;
c) yellow rays radiating from the joints of the straight and equal lines.
Form of State
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has a parliamentary form of government. The Federal Democratic Republic is composed of States, which are delimited on the basis of the settlement patterns, language, identity and consent of the peoples concerned.
Legal System
The federal constitution was promulgated by the transitional authorities in December 1994. Representatives were elected to the institutions of the new republic in May 1995. The institutions are fully in operation from September 1995.
National Legislature
The 548-member Council of People's Representatives is the federal assembly. Nine regional state councils have limited powers including appointing the supervisory Federal Council.
Location
Ethiopia is strategically located in the Horn of Africa. bordered by the Sudan on the West, Somalia and Djibouti on the East, Eritrea on the North and Kenya on the South.
Size and Population
Ethiopia covers an area of approximately 1.14 million square kilometers (444,000 squares miles), With a population of about 57 million. The Ethiopian peoples comprise about 80 nationalities of which the Amhara and the Oromo constitute the majority, with about 60 percent of the total population.
Approximately 85 percent of the population lives in the rural areas. The annual population growth rate is about 3 percent, and the economically active segment, between ages 14 and 60, is about 50 percent of the total population.
Capital City
Addis Ababa is the seat of the Federal Government of Ethiopia, and lies on the central plateau at an altitude of 2,400 meters, 9 degree north of the equator. Its average temperatures is 16 degree centigrade. Addis Ababa was founded in 1887, and has a population of about 3 million. It is the host of the Organization of African Unity. (OAU), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Seven other international organizations have their headquarters and branch offices in the capital, which is also the center of commerce and industry. Manufacturing plants for steel fabrication, wood, tanneries, textiles, cement, leather goods and breweries are among the activities located in and around Addis Ababa. ClimateAlthough Ethiopia lies within 15 degrees north of the equator, owing to the moderating influence of high altitude, the central highlands, where the vast majority of Ethiopian peoples live, generally enjoy temperate and pleasant climate, with average temperatures rarely exceeding 20 degree centigrade. The sparsely populated low lands, on the other hand, typically have sub-tropical and tropical climates. At approximately 850mm (34 inches), the average annual rainfall for the whole country is considered to be moderate by global standards. In most of the highlands, rainfall occurs in two distinct season: the "small" rains during February and March and the "high rains from June to September.
ReligionEthiopian culture and tradition have been much influenced by both Christian and Moslem religions. The Amharas and Tigreans are predominantly Christian and adhere to the Orthodox church. The Oromos, the largest ethnic group in the country are more mixed, with Christian and Muslim communities, as well communities who adhere to local.
Main Language
Ethiopia is a country with many nations and nationalities where many languages are spoken. Whereas Amharic is the official language. The working languages of the national/regional government may differ according to regions. English, French, Italian and Arabic also widely spoken.
Calendar
Ethiopia uses the Julian Solar calendar which is made up of 12 equal
months of 30 days each and a thirteenth month consisting of 5 or 6 days, depending on the
year.
Festivals
The Ethiopian Year is full of colorful festivals and both secular and religious holidays. Some of the biggest festivals are:
Population
September 11 New Year
September 27 Maskal (Finding of the True Cross)
January 7 Ethiopian Christmas
January 19 Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany)
January 28 Ramadan
March 2 Victory of Adwa
April 6 Id Al Adaha (Arefa)
April 17 Ethiopian Good Friday
April 19 Ethiopian Easter (Sunday)
May 1 International Labour Day
May 5 Patriots’Victory Day
May 28 National Holiday
July 6 (date varies) Birth of the Prophet Mohammed
Social Indicators
G.C 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 E.F.Y 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1. Ethiopian Population (in millions) % increase per annum
48.8 3.1
50.3 3.1
51.9 3.1
53.8 3.1
55.2 3.2
56.6 3.2
Crude birthrate (per 1000 Pop.) 46.1 45.5 44.3 46.4 Crude mortality rate (per 1000 pop.) 15.2 13.5 18 16.4 Infant mortality rate 111.0 110 110.0 Life expectancy at birth (per 1000 pop. in years) 47.0 49 49 Source: CSA and MEDAC
Gross Domestic Product at 1973 (EFY) Constant Factor Cost1
G.C
1990/91
1991/92
1992/93
93/94
1994/95
E.F.Y
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
Education Pup/Teacher Ratio by level
Primary
Junior Secondary
Senior Secondary
36
32
35
30
32
35
27
31
33
30
33
33
33
33
33
Health Population per hospital bed
Population per health center
Population per health station
4563
353596
25667
5721
362420
26149
5678
293787
22242
Electricity Total generation (ICS + SCS) gwh
No. of Registered Consumers (ICS + SCS). (000)
Total Domestic Consumption (gwh)
1128
401
946
1146
429
994
1276
450
1035
1387
472
1134
1452
500
1175
Source: 1. Education M.O.Education
2. Health M.O.Health
3. Electricity Ethiopian Electric Light and Power Authority (EELPA)
Banking and Finance
E.F.Y
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
G.C
90/91
91/92
92/93
93/94
94/95
1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) GDP (Billions of Birr)
10.9
10.6
11.8
12.1
12.8
GDP growth (Ann. Aver. in %) -5.2
-3.2
11.7
2.8
5.4
2. Distribution of GDP (in %) Agriculture
Industry
Manufacturing2
Distributive services
Other services
56.6
9.4
3.0
11.2
22.7
57.2
8.9
2.8
11.1
22.8
54.1
10.3
3.9
12.6
23.0
51.2
10.7
4.3
13.2
24.8
50.8
11.0
4.4
13.3
24.9
3. Annual average growth (in %) Agriculture
Industry
Manufacturing
Distribution services
Other services
2.5
-18.4
-38.7
-23.0
-5.1
-2.2
-8.5
-10.5
-4.2
-3.0
5.7
28.8
54.0
26.4
13.0
-2.7
7.1
12.7
8.0
10.9
4.6
8.0
9.4
6.4
5.6
4. Inflation Rate3 20.9
21.0
10.0
1.2
13.4
Source: Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation and Central Statistical Authority.
Based on the revised National Accounts Series.2
Because manufacturing is generally considered the most dynamic part of the industrial sector, its share of GDP is shown separately.3
Based on Addis Ababa Consumer price Index.
Policy and Strategy
E.F.Y
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
G.C
90/91
91/92
92/93
93/94
94/95
Money supply (M1) (million birr) Currency in circulation
% increase per annum
Demand Deposits
% Money supply
6123.4 3817.4
39.6
2305.9
37.6
6840.1 4315.8
13.1
2524.3
37.0
7580.7 4883.2
13.1
2697.5
35.6
8373.2 5158.9
5.6
3214.3
38.3
9909.1 5843.3
13.3
4065.8
41.0
Quasi money (mil. birr) % increase per annum
Of which:
Savings deposits
Time deposits
% of Quasi money
1811.7 6.2
1676.7
134.8
7.4
2152.0 18.8
1999.1
152.9
7.1
2556.0 18.8
2246.8
309.2
12.1
3225.5 26.2
2844.3
381.2
11.8
4093.9 26.9
3649.4
444.5
10.8
Domestic Credit (mil. birr) Of which:
Net claims on Government
Claims on Non-government
8999.4
6021.6
2977.8
10167.7
7033.6
3134.1
11633.8
9128.0
2505.6
12789.1
9615.9
3173.1
13870.9
9021.6
4849.3
Net Foreign Asset (mil. birr) Increase % per annum
Official reserves as % of imports
270.7 905.6
12.7
407.0 50.4
22.5
1663.9 308.8
53.2
3605.4 116.7
5050.7 40.1
Broad money** % increase per annum
7934.8 18.5
8992.1 13.3
10136.7 12.7
11598.7 14.4
14002.9 20.7
Source: From 1983/84 - 1990/91 NBE quarterly bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 4. For 1991/92 Survey of Current Economic conditions in Ethiopia. Vol. 1, No. 1 PAU, MOPED.
For 1992/93 - 1994/95, NBE, Unpublished Monetary Survey.
** Broad money references to the stock of money at the end of June each year.
The New Economic Policy
In response to the challenges posed by the decline in economic and social performance, the Government adopted a new economic policy in 1992, whose major principles are:
reducing the role of the state in the economy;
promoting domestic and foreign private investment;
enhancing popular/community/participation in development;
mobilizing external resources; and
involving regional administrations in economic management.
Development StrategyBased on the new economic policy, the government formulated a long-term economic development strategy-Agriculture Development-Led-Industrialization (ADLI) - which is geared towards the transformation of the backward economic structure. It is a two-pronged strategy incorporating on one side the external sector (export-led part) and on the other the internal sector which shows the forward and the backward-linkages between agriculture and industry. In the connection, (1) agriculture will supply commodities for exports, domestic food supply and industrial output; and (2) expand market for domestic manufactures. The mining sector is expected to give an impetus to the development of the export sector. The sector strategies which are already formulated and those which are under formulation will serve as the scaffolding for the realization of ADLI.