Almost twice the size of Texas, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is situated in the northeast section of Africa known as the Horn of Africa. It is one of the oldest continuously independent nations in the world, and Africa’s second most populous nation with 77 million people. Some of the oldest traces of humanity have been found there, making it an important area in the history of human evolution. Recent studies indicate that the vicinity of present-day Addis Ababa, the capitol, was possibly the point from which human beings began a world-wide migration.
Ethiopia is a mosaic of 78 ethnic groups speaking over 80 languages and 200 dialects. Amharic is the official language, while English, French, and Italian are widely spoken, especially in business and academic circles. The principal religions are Ethiopian Orthodox (Monophysite Christianity) and Islam and, to a lesser extent, Judaism and Animism.
Geographically, the country is a microcosm of an entire continent ranging from hot, dry flatlands to rolling hills and fertile highlands to savanna and mountains with altitudes ranging from 125 meters below sea level to 4,620 meters above sea level. The dramatic contours of the Ethiopian landscape with its rivers and lakes have been hailed by some as among the most spectacular in the world. In order to preserve its varied and unique flora and fauna for future generations, the country has established eight national parks, ten game reserves, and two wildlife sanctuaries.
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, involving 80% of the population and accounting for almost half of GDP. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices resulting in deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management, leaving almost 40% of the population below the poverty line.
Because of the poor economy, there is a serious lack of adequate medical care and education which has left the people at high risk for a range of diseases such as bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, typhoid fever, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, schistosomiasis, and AIDS. In 2003 it was estimated that there were 1.5 million people living with AIDS and 120,000 deaths from the disease that year alone. Life expectancy is 49 years and the death rate for children is high at 91.92 deaths per 1,000 live births.
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