Unique among African countries, The ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, except for the short term - 1936-1941- Italian occupation period.

In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SALASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a state based on the ideology of Marxism.

Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa, in the so-called "Horn of Africa" west of Somalia

Its total area: 1,127,127 sq. km (land: 1,119,683 sq. km water: 7,444 sq. km)

Neighboring countries are: Djibouti over 337 km; Eritrea over 912 km; Kenya over 830 km; Somalia over 1,626 km; Sudan over 1,606 km

Population: 64,117,452 Population (2000); 66,557,553 (July 2003 est.) Population growth rate: 2.76% (2000); 1.96% (2003 est.)

Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

National holiday: National Day May 28 1991 (defeat of Menguistu Haile Mariam regime)

Constitution: ratified December 1994; effective August 22, 1995

Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower (Elevation extremes: lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m)

Agriculture productions: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes; hides, cattle, sheep, goats (Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 25% Irrigated land: 1,900 sq. km (1999 est.)

Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Industrial productions: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement

For nearly four decades, from mid 1955's to 1993, Ethiopia's successive governments - under the monarchy regime or the republican ones - spent huge amounts of scarce financial resources to try to preserve the integrity of the nation.

They purchased weapons, war planes etc. to equip an overstaffed army. They strove hard to keep the actual independent Republic of Eritrea under Ethiopia governing rules. Between June 1998 and December 2000, a borders' war with Eritrea - disrupted further an economy already in very bad shape.

On December 12, 2000, the war with Eritrea officially ended. A peace accord was signed in Algiers - under the sponsorship of Algeria's Bouteflika, Togo's Eyadema and United Nations' Secretary General Koffi Annan.

The peace accord is still holding on this may 2004. However, a lot remains to be done to restore confidence amongst the respective rulers of both countries. A UN mission to Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) is in charge of monitoring the frontiers and the peace accord. Click here for the latest news about relationships between UNMEE and the governements of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Drought occurrence in Ethiopia follows a regular pattern: every two years there is a drought. This is a well known fact since more than a century. Yet, till nowadays, nothing had been done by Ethiopian rulers to devise a strategic plan to counterbalance the devastating environmental effects and human degradation consequences of these recurrent droughts.

Unless Ethiopian rulers find a way to devise a strategic plan to solve and manage the long lasting drought dilemma, there is no hope for a sustained economic development for Ethiopia. Year upon year they will be obliged to live on international charity (up to 65% of national budget) to feed the populations.

The establishment of such a strategic plan is an absolute necessity as agriculture accounts for half of GNP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment.

Once the drought problem efficiently tackled and solved the country can look ahead for a prosperous era. With a population base of nearly 70 million people, it will be possible then to establish a strong agribusiness sector to drive upwards the economy.

There are business opportunities in all sectors: basic infrastructure - roads, hospital etc.; agriculture - irrigation system; fertilizer production; crops transformation; food processing etc.

Click here for Ethiopia's Privatization Agency.
Click here for a "Strategic economic scheme for an African country"

MORE ON ETHIOPIA 1- D&B Export Guide to Ethiopia Digital Delivery in PDF by D&B 2- The Paradox of Africa's Poverty The Role of Indigenous Knowledge The Case of Ethiopia / by Tirfe Mammo 3- Ethiopia Tradition of Creativity by Raymond A. Sylverman 4- Adventures of the Bone Trade The Race to Discover Human Ancestors In Ethiopia / by Jon E. Kalb 5- Peasant Revolution In Ethiopia The Tigray People Liberation Front by John Young

6- African Ark People and Ancient Cultures of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa / by Caroll Beckwith 7- Churches of Ethiopia The Monastry of Narga Sellase by Stanislas Chejnacki 8- Blue Nile Ethiopian River of Magic and Mystery / by Virginia Morell 9- Saving the Lost Tribe Rescue and Redemption of the Ethiopian Jews / by Asher Naim 10- The Ethiopians - A History by Richard Pankhurst 11- More News On Ethiopia by Yahoo! Update

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GNP: US$ 13.066 billion (2000); 16.860 billion (2002 est.))
GNP-real growth rate: 0% (1999) 2% (2000); 5.5% (2002 est.)
GNP-per capita: US$ 203 (2000); 255 (2002)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 52%
   

2. industry: 11%
   
3. services: 37%

Exports: US$ 460 million (f.o.b. 2000); 433 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Commodities: commodities: coffee, gold, leather products, oilseeds
Imports: US$ 1.25 billion (f.o.b.2000); 433 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles (2000)

Remark: Imports and exports statistics are not up-to-date; it is impossible to get real figures with regards arms / military equipment importation.

FOR CURRENCY EQUIVALENCE CLICK HERE

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A passport and a valid Ethiopian visa are required to enter or transit Ethiopia; as is evidence of a yellow fever vaccination.

Laptop computers must be declared upon arrival and departure. Tape recorders require special customs permits. For further inquiries / information should be obtained thorough the nearest Ethiopian embassy or consulate.

CANADA Embassy of Ethiopia #210-151 Slater Street Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3 Tel : +(1) 613 235-6637 Fax: +(1) 613 235-4638 E-mail : Click here Website: Click here	USA Embassy of Ethiopia 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Suite 1000, Washington DC 20008 Tel: (202) 234-2281 Fax: (202) 483-8407 E-mail: Click here Website: Click here
Belgium Embassy of Ethiopia Avenue de Tervuren, 231 B1500 Brussels Tel: +(32) 2 771 3294 Fax: +(32) 2 771 4914

Ethiopian Airlines, the national air carrier - rated amongst the best in the world for its service and regularity - have regular schedules linking Ethiopia's international airport of Addis Ababa with, East, West and South Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Form Addis Ababa there are good connections to America and the Far East.

The national airline also offers domestic services to the major towns in Ethiopia.
Other airlines serving Ethiopia: Kenya Airways; Air Djibouti; Egyptair; Alitalia; Lufthansa; Saudia Aeroflot;Yemenia

Being a landlocked country, Ethiopia needs the vital railways track linking Addis-Ababa with the Red Sea Port of Djibouti: The Ethiopian segment of the track totals 681 km of narrow 1.000-m gauge

In April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to revitalize the century-old railroad; since May 1998 Ethiopia has undertaken considerable maintenance and improvement works to secure the traffic and repair the lines

Ethiopia has a Merchant marine dating back to the time when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia territory. It: totals: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,915 GRT/112,634 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)s

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Below are listed some hotels in Addis Ababa the Capital-City. For selection of hotels outside Addis Ababa click here