Country Profile · No. 18

Ethiopia

Capital / Admin Capital

Addis AbabaPopulation: ~126.5MIndependence: Never formally colonized (Ancient sovereign state; defended sovereignty at the Battle of Adwa in 1896)

First Modern Leader

Emperor Menelik II (Modern founder; first Prime Minister Aklilu Habte-Wold in 1957)Current Prime Minister: Abiy Ahmed (Serving since April 2018)

Geography & Borders

Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan. Landlocked highland nation in the Horn of Africa.

Demographics & Language

Christianity (Ethiopian Orthodox, ~43%), Islam (~34%), Protestant (~18%). Official: Amharic language (working federal language), Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali. Major groups: Oromo (~35%), Amhara (~30%), Somali (~6%), Tigray (~6%).

Economy & GDP

Coffee production, agriculture (teff, oilseeds, flowers), textile manufacturing, hydroelectric power.

Global Diaspora

1. United States (~300k–500k), 2. Saudi Arabia (~400k), 3. Israel (~150k).U.S. Hubs (States / Cities): Washington D.C. / Northern Virginia, Minnesota (Minneapolis), California (Los Angeles).

Major Conflicts

First Italo-Ethiopian War (1895–1896), Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936), Ethiopian Civil War (1974–1991), Tigray War (2020–2022).

3 Must-See Sites

1. Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela (Monolithic medieval churches carved directly down into solid pink volcanic rock), 2. Simien Mountains National Park (Dramatic jagged mountain peaks and deep valleys inhabited by endemic gelada baboons), 3. Gondar Castles (Fasil Ghebbi) (Royal fortress city featuring 17th- century European and medieval stone castles).

Quick Facts

One of the oldest nations in the world and the birthplace of coffee (Coffea arabica); uses its own unique 13-month calendar and distinct Ethiopic script.