Ethiopia Ecological footprint
Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936-41.A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995.
Geography : Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia.
8 00 N, 38 00 E
People : Population: 88, 013, 491
Population growth rate: 3.202% (2010 est.)
Government : Country name: Conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik.
local short form: Ityop'iya
former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
abbreviation: FDRE
Economy : Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for about 45% of GDP, and 85% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices.Although GDP growth has since rebounded, soaring commodity prices in 2007 and 2008 and the global economic downturn led to balance of payments pressures, partially alleviated by recent emergency funding from the IMF.
Communication : Telephones - main lines in use: 915, 100 (2009)