General Geographic Features 27th largest country in the world Landlocked: No direct access to oceans

Regional Differences Deserts in the East Tropical Rainforest in South Highlands in North and South West Most cities are located over 1,000 KM above

sea level

Ethiopia’s Population Over 93 million people live in Ethiopia

Largest Cities Addis Ababa (National Capital): 3,040,740 Dire Dawa: 273, 601 Mek’ele: 271,562 Adama: 262, 884 Gondar: 262,884

Main Geographical Features Ethiopian Highlands Great Rift Valley (Cuts the Highlands in ½) Lake Tana (Source of the Blue Nile) Mount Entonto

Wildlife Climate and elevation have allowed for the

creation of many species of animals that are unique to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is home to 856 different species of birds!

Ancient History Scientist believe that some of the earliest records of

human life occurred within present day Ethiopia Aksum: One of the most powerful empires in the world

during the 3rd and 4th Century (200-300 AD) No African Scramble for Ethiopia!! Menelik II (1889-1913) Emperor

Created present day boundaries for Ethiopia (Independence)

Resisted Italian forces in 1896 Created Addis Ababa

Haile Selassie I (1930-1974) Time Magazines Man of Year in 1935 Teamed w/ GB to remove Italy for good in 1941 (part of

WWII) Ruled until the people of Ethiopia got rid of him because

of the World Oil Shortage in 1973-1974

Communist Ethiopia Mengistu Hailemariam: Leader of the Derg Party 500,000 Ethiopians were killed by the Derg Party

End of Communist Party in Ethiopia Drought: Killed more than 1 million people during

the 1980s….led to mass protest of communist government by Ethiopians.

1991: USSR (Gorbachev) decided to cut aid to Ethiopia and other communist countries (Glasnost)

Deng Party was overthrow…Mengistu found guilty of genocide in 2006

Modern History Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front

(EPRDF) gained control of country by 1994.

Government Structure: Federal Parliamentary Republic

Executive Branch: Headed by Prime Minister Legislative Branch: Controlled by 2 Chambers and

Prime Minister Judicial Branch: Separate from government

Reality Ethiopia’s government is a authoritarian (one party in

control) Multiple Elections have been rigged in 2000, 2005, and

2010

Modern Leaders Meles Zenawi (1994-2012)

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn (2012-pres)

New Prime Minister

Ethnic Diversity Over 80 different ethnic groups live in Ethiopia Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically based

states Oromo and Amhara are the two largest groups

Religious Diversity Christianity (62%) and Islam (33%) are the two

largest religions in Ethiopia Spiritual Homeland for Rastafarian Movement:

Bob Marley and Reggae Music

Economics Ethiopia’s GDP is 41.9 billion dollars (value of goods and

services) During the mid 2000’s Ethiopia was one of the fastest

growing economies in the world. Today the GDP per capita is still very low

Agriculture Makes up 40% of Ethiopia’s GDP and 80% of all Ethiopian

exports Main Crops: Coffee, beans, oilseed, cereal, potatoes Stats: #1 in African Coffee Exports and #10 in worldwide

livestock exports Education

Literacy Rate is around 30% (pretty good for Africa) 6 years elementary school, 6 years of secondary

Poverty Both urban and rural areas have issues with poverty 80% of urban water is clean while only 11% of rural

water is clean. Around 20% of Ethiopia’s population live on less than

1 dollar a day. 75% of rural Ethiopians share sleeping quarters with

livestock 50% of urban residents live in poorly constructed

slums Conclusion

Life is difficult for urban and rural living Ethiopians More and more Ethiopians move to cities each year

Food WAT: Thick meat stews Flatbreads are used as utensils….scoop up food, eat

with hands. Very little pork and/or shellfish due to religious beliefs

Sports Long Distance Running is the most popular sport…

multiple world record holders and gold medalist Soccer is the 2nd most popular sport. Ethiopia just

missed qualifiying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Miscellaneous Culture Oddities

Freedom of Speech is limited Marriage by Abduction is a popular practice in rural

areas Medical care is somewhat lacking…only 2.6 doctors for

every 100,000 people

Haile Gebrselassic 1996 and 2000 Gold Medalist in 10,000 27 world records during his career

Kenenisa Bakele 2004 and 2008 Gold Medalist in 10,000 and 5,000 Just won the 2014 Paris Marathon

Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi Worth 12.3 billion dollars, richest man in Ethiopia Made money in oil, construction, and real estate

Marcus Samuelsson Celebrity Chef

Hibret Fekadu Ethiopian Model

Modern Issues Voter Fraud in 2010 Back to back years of little rain (2010, 2011) 200 people died in government protests in 2005 Deforestation: Ethiopia’s forests are getting smaller

at an alarming rate AIDS and Women’s Health concerns

Current Events Debates about Nile River Dam with Egypt Anti-Gay Protests in Addis Ababa Ethiopian dominance in international running events