The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic የኢትዮጵያ) is a nation of northeastern Africa. Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936-1941.

Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
የኢትዮጵያ ፈደራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ

coat of arms (In Detail) (Full size)
Official language	Amharic
Capital	Addis Ababa
President	Girma Wolde-Giorgis
Prime Minister	Meles Zenawi
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 26th 1,127,127 km² 0.7%
Population  -Total  -Density	Ranked 16th 67,673,031 0/km²
Currency	Birr (ETB)
Time zone	UTC +3
National anthem	Whedefit Gesgeshi Woude Henate Ethiopia (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)
Internet TLD	.ET
Calling Code	251

History

Main article: History of Ethiopia

In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile Selassie (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea that erupted in May 1998 has strengthened the ruling coalition, but has hurt the nation's economy.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Ethiopia

Regions

Main article: Regions of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi) and 2 chartered cities*:

Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara, Benishangul/Gumaz; Dire Dawa*; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Tigray

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ethiopia

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ethiopia

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Ethiopia

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ethiopia

• Cuisine of Ethiopia
• Music of Ethiopia

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Ethiopia
• Transportation in Ethiopia
• Military of Ethiopia
• Foreign relations of Ethiopia

External links and references

• CIA World Factbook [1] (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/et.html)
• University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center Ethiopia Page [2] (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Ethiopia.html)