Transcript Note on Ethiopia

Ethiopia
Main Ethnic
Groups
Some History
• The earliest evidence: around 1000BC
when the Queen of Sheba visited King
Solomon.
– The imperial family of Ethiopia claims its
origin directly from the offspring of the
Queen of Sheba by King Solomon.
• First recorded kingdom in Ethiopia grew
around Axum during the 3rd century BC.
• Christianity adopted when the king was
converted around 330 AD; an ancient and
unique form of Christianity
• Continuous conflict with the expanding
Islamic movement, ultimately with the
Ottoman Empire
In 1916, Haile Selassie, born Prince Ras Tafari
Makonnen, was proclaimed Emperor in 1930
•Mussolini invaded, 1936,
(the League of Nations did
nothing)
Expelled by Ethiopians and Brits
in 1941
•Eritrian situation:
•Under UK control;
•Joined with Ethiopia in a
Federation in 1952
•Annexed outright in 1962
•Guerrilla war breaks out
•Independence in 1991;
•Warfare with Ethiopia on and off
ever since
Highly inequitable pattern of
development for many years;
1974: a social revolution and a group of
junior army officers led by Mengistu
Haile Miriam imposed a military
Marxist dictatorship.
Expelled Americans
Some radical reforms
Somalis invade to reclaim Ogaden
USSR & Cuba back Ethiopia
U.S. backs Somalia
Radicalization under Mengistu:
‘People's committees‘ tried to control the
everyday people’s lives
Many people were forcibly moved in an
attempt to counter famine.
Conscription into the army called on ever
man from 18 to 70 years old.
Mengistu left in 1991
Reasonable internal stability since 1991
Development record: very weak
Basic Information on Ethiopia
Demographic:
Population:
Population Growth Rate:
79.1 million (2007)
2.9% per annum
(Doubling every 24 years)
Fertility Rate:
woman
Life Expectancy:
5.3 children per
53 years
Human Development Index:
1985: .311
1995: .347 2005: .406
Rank in World:
# 169
Rank in Africa:
# 30
Economic Indicators:
GDP per capita (PPP) in 2005:
GDP per capita (PPP) Africa:
$ 1,055
$ 1,998
GDP Growth rate, per capita, 2000-2007: 1.5 % p.a.
Arable land per person: 1.7 hectares
Arable land as %of total: 13%
Gini Coefficient: .30 (among the most equal in the
world)
Exports: $ 1.28 billion; or about $16.20 per
inhabitant
Manufactured Exports as % of Total: 13%
for Africa:
34%
Development Assistance as % of GDP: 17.3%
for Africa: 5.1%