Ethiopia

Population- 90.9m (CIA July 2011 est. )

GNI- US$390 (World Bank 2010)

Size-  1.13million sq km

Major religions- Christianity, Islam

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line- 38.9% (World Bank 2010)

Life Expectancy- 58 (World Bank 2009)

Literacy rate- 30% (World Bank 2008)

Corruption statistics (Transparency International (2010) rating /10 (world ranking in brackets))- 2.7 (116)

Unemployment- 20.5% (World Bank 2009)

Percentage primary school enrolment- 102% (World Bank 2009)

Percentage of rural population with access to improved water source- 38% (CIA 2008)

Infant mortality rate (deaths of children under 1 year of age per 1,000 of the population)- 77.12 (CIA 2011 est.)

Physicians/ 1,000 population- 0.022 (CIA 2007)

Summary Profile

Ethiopia was never colonised in the way the rest of Africa was and is thus the continent’s 'oldest' country. Much more like the majority of Africa, Ethiopia has experienced its fair share of domestic and international warfare. Today the country is stable once more but as a result of drought and food shortage, famines are common in Ethiopia. External food aid is essential to the survival of much of the population. Ethiopia’s borders with Eritrea to the north and Somalia to the east continue to be the sources of tension.