Quick Facts

Location: Situated between the red sea and the great Africa Rift, on the eastern flank of Africa, facing Arabia, bordering Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan.

Capital: Addia Abeba was settled in 1886 and christened by Queen Taytu, consort of Emperor Menilik ll.

Government: Ethiopia is an independent republic operating under the federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The President is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of the government.

Currency: Birr Exchange rates: US $1= 36Birr, Euro 1=42 Birr. (January 2020)

Area: 1,133,380 Million sq km (437,600 sq mi).

Population: The population estimated to be 110 Million. Approximately 28% are under the age of 14 and almost half are under 35.

Language: 82 languages and 200 dialects are spoken. They can be subdivided into four language families: Cushitic Hamitic-Semitic Hamitic-Omotic and Nilotic the most widely spoken are Oromifa, Amharic (official language), Tigrigna and Somali.

Religion: 45% Ethiopian Orthodox, 34% Islamic, 18% protestant and 3% are indigenous religion.

Country code: +251

Communications: Telephone, fax and internet services are available at every city most hotels, restaurant and cafeterias are also providing WI-FI services.

Time and Calendar: Ethiopia is in the GMT+3 hours time zone. Ethiopia follow the Julian calendar, which consist of 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th months of 5 or 6 days (in leap year).

Climate: The climate of Ethiopia varies mainly according to elevation. The principal rain season occurs between mid-June and September, follow by a dry season that may be interrupted in February or March by a short rain season.

Endemic mammals and birds: There are 284 species of mammals of which 31 are endemic and 7 are large mammals, Gelada Baboon, Starck’s hair Giant Mole Rat, Abyssinian Wolf, Menilik’s Bush Buck, mountain Nyala, Swaynes Hartbeest, Walia Ibex, wild Ass among others. There are 861 species of birds of which 17 are endemic to Ethiopia.