Ethiopia
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Addis Ababa
- Population
- 121,372,632 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 1,104,300 sq km
- Government
- federal parliamentary republic
- Religions
- Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Oromo 35.8%, Amhara 24.1%, Somali 7.2%, Tigray 5.7%, Sidama 4.1%, Guragie 2.6%, Welaita 2.3%, Afar 2.2%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 13.5% (2022 est.)
- Currency
- birr (ETB)
- Life Expectancy
- 67.7 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .et
- Climate
- tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
- Terrain
- high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
- Natural Resources
- small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
- Major Exports
- coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
The area that is modern-day Ethiopia is rich in cultural and religious diversity with more than 80 ethnic groups. The oldest hominid yet found comes from Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was the second country to officially adopt Christianity in the 4th century A.D.