Population Population distribution, change distribution, change & carrying capacity& carrying capacity

A look at EthiopiaA look at Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s PopulationEthiopia’s Population

Size & rate amongst highest in Africa.Size & rate amongst highest in Africa. 2004 – Population around 67mn.2004 – Population around 67mn. Annual growth rate – 2.9%. Population Annual growth rate – 2.9%. Population

will approach 110mn before 2020. That is will approach 110mn before 2020. That is X2 1994’s population. X2 1994’s population.

2mn are added each year.2mn are added each year. Cause – high fertility andCause – high fertility and falling DR.falling DR.

Rural AreasRural Areas Over 75% of Ethiopians live in rural areas Over 75% of Ethiopians live in rural areas

and a significant % of these people are and a significant % of these people are pastoral nomads, which makes counting pastoral nomads, which makes counting the population both difficult and the population both difficult and inaccurate. inaccurate.

GDP per capita – Just over $100.GDP per capita – Just over $100. One of the poorest countries in the world.One of the poorest countries in the world.

Population DistributionPopulation Distribution

The national average is 55 persons per The national average is 55 persons per kmkm².².

Regional level densities range from 30-Regional level densities range from 30-100 persons per km².100 persons per km².

The distribution is strongly conditioned by The distribution is strongly conditioned by altitude & relief. Physically, Ethiopia altitude & relief. Physically, Ethiopia consists of 2 great plateaux separated by consists of 2 great plateaux separated by part of the great Rift Valley.part of the great Rift Valley.

Ethiopian Plateau to the west of the Rift Valley is the most fertile and populated part.

Highest densities of population – capital – Addis Ababa (6mn)

Desert

4250mNarrow valley, dotted with lakes.

Influence of physical Influence of physical factorsfactors

About 15% of the population live in areas About 15% of the population live in areas above 2400m, around 75% live in the zone above 2400m, around 75% live in the zone 1500m-2400m and only 10% live below 1500m 1500m-2400m and only 10% live below 1500m – despite the fact that over half of Ethiopia’s – despite the fact that over half of Ethiopia’s territory falls in this last category.territory falls in this last category.

Above 3000m the terrain is rugged and the Above 3000m the terrain is rugged and the temperatures are low. Below 1500m there are temperatures are low. Below 1500m there are high temperatures, low rainfall and recurrent high temperatures, low rainfall and recurrent droughts.droughts.

Altitude generally seen as negative, but not in Ethiopia.

Too poor to afford technology to deal with problems such as drought e.g. Irrigation.

Other factorsOther factors Biological – Biological – Pop growth is higher in populated Pop growth is higher in populated

prosperous areas. Malaria and other illnesses prosperous areas. Malaria and other illnesses prevail in the lower parts of the country, which prevail in the lower parts of the country, which prevent people settling.prevent people settling.

Economic – Economic – 75% dependent on farming.75% dependent on farming. Social factors – Social factors – The pull of Addis Abba ( rural The pull of Addis Abba ( rural

to urban migration) is concentrating the pop on to urban migration) is concentrating the pop on the Ethiopian plateau.the Ethiopian plateau.

Technological – Technological – It is poor, so little technology It is poor, so little technology available to open up remote areas.available to open up remote areas.

Political – Political – Long standing border dispute with Long standing border dispute with Eritrea mean money is spent on the armed Eritrea mean money is spent on the armed forces rather than dealing with the forces rather than dealing with the demographic situation.demographic situation.

EffectsEffects

Historical pattern of uneven distributed Historical pattern of uneven distributed population. population.

Carrying capacities in the favoured areas Carrying capacities in the favoured areas are being pushed to their limits. are being pushed to their limits. Malnutrition, starvation indicate this has Malnutrition, starvation indicate this has been reached in some areas. been reached in some areas.

HIV rate of 11% is the sad solution which HIV rate of 11% is the sad solution which may slow down population growth.may slow down population growth.