Terrain
High plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Climate
Tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
People
Nationality: Ethiopian(s)
Population: 96,633,458 (July 2014 est.)
Languages: Oromo (official working language in the State of Oromiya) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official working language of the State of Sumale) 6.2%, Tigrayan (official working language of the State of Tigray) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Guragiegna 2%, Afar (official working language of the State of Afar) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, other 11.7%,
Religions
Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.6%, traditional 2.6%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.7%, (2007 census)
Economy
Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture but the government is pushing to diversify into manufacturing, textiles, and energy generation. Coffee is a major export crop. The agricultural sector suffers from poor cultivation practices and frequent drought, but recent joint efforts by the Government of Ethiopia and donors have strengthened Ethiopia's agricultural resilience, contributing to a reduction in the number of Ethiopians threatened with starvation.
MIGRATION WITHIN AFRICA (TO KENYA) (1:23)
Living Conditions
Drought and famine in Ethiopia have left parts of the country devastated. The north-central region has been affected and conditions there have been made worse by a civil war that continued until 1991. There are four major ecological zones that determine living conditions for Ethiopians. To the east are the desert nomads. National Geographic Magazine describes them as one of the toughest and most ferocious peoples on earth.
Government
Federal Republic
US Military Presence/Support
The U.S. has regularly provided food and humanitarian aid to Ethiopia during times of drought. Economic assistance is given to reduce hunger and poverty and efforts aimed at social and governance reforms. American military training funds are targeted solely for nonlethal purposes and peacekeeping efforts.
US Military Presence: U.S. MILITARY COOPERATION (:54)