Some facts about Ethiopia

• Ethiopia never lose its independence.
• Ethiopia is as large as Spain and France combined.
• Ethiopia is the 2nd-most populous nation in Africa, with over 85.2 million people,
• Ethiopia adopted Christianity in the fourth century.
• Ethiopia has a population of over 85.2 million and covers an area of almost 1,100,000 km2.
• It is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, and Kenya to the south.
• Official language: Amharic
• Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea, bordering the Red Sea, gained its independence in 1993.
• The capital, Addis Ababa, whose name means "New Flower", was settled in 1886.
• Addis Ababa population is approximately 3,384,569 (2007).
• The 2nd largest city in Ethiopia is Dire Dawa, with an estimated population of 330,000.
• More than 80 percent of the population of Ethiopia live in rural areas.
• There are altogether around eighty different ethnic groups in Ethiopia today.
• The major religions are Islam, Orthodox Christian and Animist.
• The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr.