gton, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Y. YAMAMOTO
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] (1) 517-4000
FAX: [251] (1) 517-4888

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a
yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles
between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands;
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three
main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African
countries upon independence that they became known as the
pan-African colors

Economy Ethiopia

Economy - overview:
Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture,
accounting for half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total
employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought
and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian
economy with exports of some $156 million in 2002, but historically
low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement
income. The war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have
buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. In November
2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and in December 2005 the
International Monetary Fund voted to forgive Ethiopia's debt to the
body. Under Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government owns all
land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system
continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs
are unable to use land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again
late in 2002, leading to a 2% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather
patterns helped agricultural and GDP growth recover in 2004-06.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$71.63 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.789 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
8.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 49.2%
industry: 9.1%
services: 41.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
27.27 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry: 8%
services: 12% (198