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Popultion
Ethiopia's
total population is around 68 million according to 2004 estimates, and
is often referred to as a rich cultural mosaic, with each ethnic group
boasting its own distinctive language and culture. 90% of the population
live in the countryside.They
occupy the northwestern Ethiopian highlands and the area north of Addis
Ababa. The Oromo of Cushitic origin, a pastoral and agricultural people,
live mainly in central and southwestern Ethiopia, while the Afar &
Somalis of the same origin as Oromo live in the east and southeast of
the country, respectively. 
Ethiopian
fact File
Total 27,127 sq km, including land - 19,683 sq km,
and water - 7,444 sq km.
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia.
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E
Comparable area: France and Spain combined.
Capital: Addis Ababa
Population: around 68 million (2004 estimate)
Population growth rate: 2,7 %
Official language: Amharic
Land boundaries: total :5,311 km
Border countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km,
Kenya 830 km, Somalia 1626 km, Sudan 1,606 km.
Coastline and maritime claims: None(land locked)
access: through Djibouti or Eritrea
International airports: Addis Ababa International Airport
Commercial Airports: Dire Dawa, Gondar,
Lalibela, Mekelle, Arbaminch, Axum
Climate: Tropical Monsoon with wide topography
- induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range
divided by the Great Rift Valley.
Lowest point: Danakil depration -125m
Highest point: Ras Dashen 4,620m
Economic growth: (Measured by GDP growth
rate on average) 5.3% 1992\3-2001\2
Currency: Birr
Exchange rate: 8.67=1US dollar
Natural Resource: Small reserves of gold,
platinum, copper, potash, natural gas and hydropower
Export: Coffee, flowers, horticultural products,
leather, spices, mutton
Import: Machinery (different types), medical equipment
Transportation
The Ethiopian terrain makes land travel difficult; because many areas
are inaccessible by road and others are inadequately served by surface
transportation, air transport is of great importance. A government-owned
airline company, Ethiopian Airlines, handles both domestic and international
air service. International airports operate in Addis Ababa and Dire
Dawa. The
capital is connected by rail with the port of Djibouti. There is a road
linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi, with the tarmac (asphalted) part from
Addis Ababa until Moyale (the Ethiopian-Kenyan border). The road from
Ethiopia to Sudan via Gondar is well constructed and joins Addis Ababa
with Khartoum.
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Currency
Ethiopia's unit of currency, the birr, is issued by the National Bank
of Ethiopia (8.67 birr equals to U.S. $1.00 as per the 2005 average
exchange rate). Other banks of the country include the Commercial Bank
of Ethiopia and the Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank. After
Ethiopia has opened to privatisation, private banks are increasing and
making the best of their effort on the financial market. Private banks
in Ethiopia are: Abyssinia Bank, Awash Bank, Dashen Bank, Hibret Bank,
Nebe Bank, Wogagen Bank, etc.
Customs
Duty-free imports are permitted for up to: 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of
alcoholic beverages and 0.5 litres of perfumes. Visitors may export
souvenirs whose value does not exceed Eth birr 500.
Internet
& Email
You can easily find an internet or email service in the city and most
towns of Ethiopia but not in the rural areas and some small towns .The
minimum charge per minute is 25 cents and the maximum is 60 cents (in
cities). The speed of connection varies from place to place. However,
you may get a broadband connection in some internet cafes.
The speed of connection depending on places to place. However, you my
get a broad band connection in some internet cafes.
Communication
Communication in the capital city is good: it is mostly possible to
make calls in most of the towns in Ethiopia and the regions covered
by the Ethiopian Telecommunication network. To make an international
call, services are provided from telecommunication offices and privately
owned tele-centres. Most of the time international calls cost around
1.25 USD to 1.5 USD per minute. Public phones are readily available
for local calls and you also can use call cards from the telecommunication
offices. Cellular phone service is provided by the Ethiopian Telecommunication
and you can subscribe a line either from permitted shops or telecommunication
by request. Mobile phones from Europe are likely to work in Ethiopia
but it is better to ask your provider
for advice before use.
Postal
Services
Postal services are available throughout the country.The working days
of the post offices
are: Monday-Saturday.
Working hours:
8:00 AM-12:00 AM and 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
Saturday only 8:00 AM-12:00 AM
Health
Requirements
All visitors are required to posses valid yellow fever vaccination certificate
(INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF VACCINATION). Anti-malaria tablets should
be taken (e.g. Lariam) for the lowland part of the country where malaria
is prevalent after the local rainy season. Vaccination against cholera
is also required for any person that has visited or been in transit
through a cholera-infected area within 6 days prior to arrival in Ethiopia. |
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Language
Of the 70 or more languages spoken in Ethiopia, most belong to the Semitic
and Cushitic group. The language of the Ethiopian church liturgy, Geez,
gave rise to the Semitic cluster of languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, and
Tigre. Amharic, the country's official language, is spoken by more than
half of the population. Many people also speak English. Arabic, Somali
and French are spoken in the east part of the country part of Harar
and Dire Dawa.
Vocabulary
& Basic Words
English – How do you do?
Amharic– Selam\Tenayistilign?
E:Good mornning (male\female)
A:Endemin
derik\Aderesh\Aderachi
E:Good
afternoon (male\female)
A:Endemicwalek\walesh\walachihu
E:Good
evening Endemin
A:EndeminAmesheh\Ameshesh
E:Have
a good night!
A:Dehna
Eder\Ederi
Awo
- Yes
Eshi – Okey
Alfeligim – I don't want/need
Efeligalehu – I
want/I need
Yikirta –Sorry
Amesegenalehu –Thank you
Suq - Shop
Metsedaga - Toilet
Gela metatebiya - Shower
Kezkaza – Cold
Tikus – Hot (hot beverages)
Numbers
1 - Ande
2 - Hulet
3 - Sost
4 - Arat
5 - Amest
6 - Sidest
7 - Sebat
8 - Siment
9 - Zetegn
10 - Asir
Visa
and Immigration
Visa Requirement. Passport should be valid at least for 6 months before
departure. Visas are required for all foreign visitors on the arrival
at the Airport except those of Kenyan, Djiboutian & Sudanese nationality.
Optionally it is possible to obtain the Ethiopian visa in the visitor’s
home country whith a nearby Ethiopia Embassy. The duration of the visa
depends on the purpose of your visit. Visa extension can be made at
the immigration office in Addis Ababa. Business visas are issued upon
the presentation of necessary documentation. The visa fee varies depending
on the duration of visit and citizenship. Prices for tourist visa are:
1 month - 20 USD, 17 EUR
3 months - 30 USD. |
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