AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 10.63% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3 million (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 280,000 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian

Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%,
Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%

Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%,
other 3%-8%

Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic,
other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 35.5% male: 45.5% female: 25.3% (1995 est.)

Government Ethiopia

Country name: conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic
of Ethiopia
Ityop'iya former: Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik abbreviation: FDRE

Government type: federal republic

Capital: Addis Ababa

Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular -
kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular -
astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara, Binshangul Gumuz,
Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch, Hareri Hizb, Oromiya, Sumale (Somali),
Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations,
Nationalities, and Peoples Region)

Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest
in the world - at least 2,000 years

National holiday: National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)

Constitution: ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995

Legal system: currently transitional mix of national and regional courts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since
8 October 2001) head
Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995) cabinet: ministers
are selected by the prime minister and approved by the House
of People's Representatives elections: president elected by the House
of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held 8
October 2001 (next to be held NA October 2007); prime minister designated
by the party in power following legislative elections election results:
People's Representatives - 100%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House
of Federation or upper chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by
state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; me