Facts About Ethiopia

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is located in the north eastern part of Africa commonly known as the “Horn of Africa”.

In 1984-85, Ethiopia was devastated by famine. At least a half a million people died and millions more lost their homes and livelihoods.

Since the 1980’s Ethiopia has been synonoumous with famine and hardship. Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries on earth and her people still endure unimaginable suffering.

Two thirds of the population live in absolute poverty.

Infant mortality: 123 infants out of every 1,000 fail to survive their first year of life.

• Child mortality: One in 5 children dies before the age of 2.
• Lack of Food: Half of Ethiopia’s children under the age of 5 are malnourished.
• Life expectancy: The average life expectancy in Ethiopia is just 46 years.
• Drinking water: Fewer than one in four Ethiopians have access to clean drinking water.
• Health Care: More than half the population have no health care whatsoever. In Ethiopia, there are 3 doctors for every hundred thousand people.
• Literacy rate: 60% of all Ethiopian adults are illiterate

In a human development report in 2005, Ethiopia was ranked #170 for human development out of 177 countries.

Women headed households which make up 1/3 or the population are the most vulnerable. It is women and children who suffer the consequences of poverty. Some eke out a subsistence living but the most unfortunate have few options other than begging and prostitution.

Thousands of children live on the streets and many more have no access to an education.

While all children in Ethiopia are entitled to an education, public school classes lack the funds for any meaningful education. With 60-70 children in a class, only the best and the brightest can benefit from any education at all.

It is thought that (at best), about half of the girls in Addis are “coerced” into their first sexual experience….at worst; it can often be outright rape.