ions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist
12%, other 3%-8%
Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,
Arabic, 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
Country name:
conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form: YeItyop'iya
abbreviation: FDRE
Data code: ET
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions: 9 states and 2 chartered cities*: Addis
Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benshangul/Gumuz (Benishangul-Gumaz); Dire
Dawa*; Gambela (Gambella); Harari (Harar); Oromia (Oromiya); Somalia
(Somali); Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP);
Tigray (Tigre)
Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
oldest in the world--at least 2,000 years
National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of MENGISTU
regime)
Constitution: promulgated December 1994
Legal system: currently transitional mix of national and regional
courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994
constitution; 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 June 1995
(next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in
power following legislative elections
election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote
by the House of People's Representatives--NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state
assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve
five-year terms)
elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May
and June 1995 (next to be held NA 20
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