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Compare Ethiopia (2002) - Belgium (2003)

Compare Ethiopia (2002) z Belgium (2003)

 Ethiopia (2002)Belgium (2003)
 EthiopiaBelgium
Administrative divisions 9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples) 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen
Age structure 0-14 years: 47.2% (male 16,098,191; female 15,879,065)


15-64 years: 50% (male 17,005,387; female 16,801,536)


65 years and over: 2.8% (male 854,023; female 1,034,829) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589)


15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182)


65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat; hides, cattle, sheep, goats sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Airports 86 (2001) 42 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 14


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total: 25


over 3,047 m: 6


2,438 to 3,047 m: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 69


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 32


under 914 m: 21 (2002)
total: 17


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 15 (2002)
Area total: 1,127,127 sq km


land: 1,119,683 sq km


water: 7,444 sq km
total: 30,510 sq km


land: 30,230 sq km


water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Texas about the size of Maryland
Background Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936-41. 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 two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
Birth rate 44.31 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 10.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $1.8 billion


expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $600 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $113.4 billion


expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17 billion (2000)
Capital Addis Ababa Brussels
Climate tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 66 km
Constitution ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
Country name conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia


conventional short form: Ethiopia


local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik


local short form: Ityop'iya


former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa


abbreviation: FDRE
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium


conventional short form: Belgium


local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie


local short form: Belgique/Belgie
Currency birr (ETB) euro (EUR)


note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Death rate 18.04 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $5.3 billion (2001 est.) $28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia A. BRAZEAL


embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa


mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa


telephone: [251] (1) 550666


FAX: [251] (1) 551328
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER


embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels


mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710


telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111


FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador KASSAHUN Ayele


chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200


FAX: [1] (202) 686-9551


consulate(s): New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE


chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900


FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Disputes - international most of the southern half of the boundary with Somalia in the Ogaden region is a provisional administrative line; in the Ogaden, regional states have established a variety of conflicting relationships with the Somali Transitional National Government in Mogadishu, feuding factions in Puntland region, and the economically stabile break-away "Somaliland" region; Ethiopia agreeed in 2002 to demarcate its entire boundary with Sudan; Eritrea and Ethiopia have expressed general approval of the April 2002 arbitration commission ruling re-delimiting the boundary, the focus of their 1998-2000 war; United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) will monitor activities within the 25-km wide temporary security zone in Eritrea until demarcation and de-mining are complete none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $764 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient $308 million (FY00/01 ) -
Economy - overview Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, 85% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices, and as many as 4.6 million people need food assistance annually. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $260 million in 2000. Other important exports include qat, live animals, hides, and gold. The war with Eritrea in 1999-2000 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. 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. Despite this limitation, strong growth is expected to continue in the near term as good rainfall, the cessation of hostilities, and renewed foreign aid and debt relief push the economy forward. This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown. Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and the US.
Electricity - consumption 1.516 billion kWh (2000) 78.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 6.712 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 15.82 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.63 billion kWh (2000) 74.28 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 38.4%


hydro: 0.6%


nuclear: 59.3%


other: 1.8% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m


highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m
lowest point: North Sea 0 m


highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ethnic groups Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1% Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Exchange rates birr per US dollar (end of period) - 8.455 (December 2001), 8.3140 (December 2000), 8.3140 (2000), 8.1340 (1999), 7.5030 (1998), 6.8640 (1997)


note: since 24 October 2001 exchange rates are determined on a daily basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999), 36.3 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995)


cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for 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 8 October 2001 (next to be held NA October 2007); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections


election results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - 100%
chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch


head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by Parliament


note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Exports $442 million f.o.b. (2000 est.) 450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities coffee, qat, gold, leather products, oilseeds machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Exports - partners Germany 18%, Japan 11%, Djibouti 11%, Saudi Arabia 8% (2000 est.) Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US 7.9%, Italy 5.4% (2002)
Fiscal year 8 July - 7 July calendar year
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 three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
GDP purchasing power parity - $46 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 52%


industry: 11%


services: 37% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 1.3%


industry: 24.4%


services: 74.3% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $700 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 7.3% (2001 est.) 0.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 8 00 N, 38 00 E 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Geography - note landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 24,145 km


paved: 3,290 km


unpaved: 20,855 km (1998)
total: 148,216 km


paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)


unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 34% (1995) (1995)
lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Illicit drugs transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; money laundering related to trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
Imports $1.54 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.) 1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners Saudi Arabia 25%, US 9%, Italy 7%, Russia 4% (2000 est.) Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.8%, UK 7.3%, Ireland 7%, US 6.4%, Italy 4% (2002)
Independence oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years 4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the throne
Industrial production growth rate 6.7% (2001 est.) 4.5% (2000 est.)
Industries food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Infant mortality rate 98.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 4.57 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.8% (2001 est.) 1.7% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2002) 61 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,900 sq km (1998 est.) 40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council) Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch, although selected by the Government)
Labor force NA 4.44 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985) (1985) services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 5,328 km


border countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km
total: 1,385 km


border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km
Land use arable land: 9.9%


permanent crops: 0.65%


other: 89.45% (1998 est.)
arable land: 25%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 75%


note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
Languages Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools) Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Legal system currently transitional mix of national and regional courts civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 14 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - OPDO 177, ANDM 134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10, ANDP 8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regional political groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed


note: irregularities and violence at a number of polling stations necessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies; voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe drought
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 June 2003 (next to be held in NA May 2007)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit 15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH 5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5, VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR 11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit 23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2


note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leaders entry
Life expectancy at birth total population: 44.21 years


male: 43.36 years


female: 45.09 years (2002 est.)
total population: 78.29 years


male: 74.97 years


female: 81.78 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 35.5%


male: 45.5%


female: 25.3% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Eastern Africa, west of Somalia Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Map references Africa Europe
Maritime claims none (landlocked) continental shelf: median line with neighbors


exclusive economic zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 81,933 GRT/101,287 DWT


ships by type: cargo 5, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2002 est.)
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,215 GRT/55,725 DWT


ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, petroleum tanker 4, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)
Military branches Ethiopian National Defense Force (Ground Forces, Air Force, militia, police)


note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession
Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $800 million (FY00) $3.077 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 12.6% (FY00) 1.4% (FY01/02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 14,925,883 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 2,497,423 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 7,790,977 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 2,059,131 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) 19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 703,625 (2002 est.) males: 60,921 (2003 est.)
National holiday National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991) 21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Nationality noun: Ethiopian(s)


adjective: Ethiopian
noun: Belgian(s)


adjective: Belgian
Natural hazards geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Natural resources small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower coal, natural gas
Net migration rate 0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2002 est.)
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [leader NA]; All-Amhara People's Organization or AAPO [HAILU Shawel]; Amhara National Democratic Movement or ANDM [ADDISU Legesse]; Bench Madji People's Democratic Organization or BMPDO [leader NA]; Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [leader NA]; Ethiopian Democratic Party or EDP [ADMASSU Gebeyehu]; Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an alliance of ANDM, OPDO, SEPDF, and TPLF); Gedeyo People's Revolutionary Democratic Fund or GPRDF [leader NA]; Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement orGNDM [leader NA]; Kafa Shaka People's Democratic Organization or KSPDO [leader NA]; Kembata, Alabaa and Tembaro or KAT [leader NA]; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa Gudina]; Oromo National Congress or ONC [MERERA Gudina]; Oromo People's Democratic Organization or OPDO [JUNEDI Sado]; Sidamo People's Democratic Organization or SPDO [leader NA]; South Ethiopia People's Democratic Front or SEPDF [KASSU Yilala]; South Omo People's Democratic Movement or SOPDM [leader NA]; Tigrayan People's Liberation Front or TPLF [MELES Zenawi]; Walayta, Gamo, Gofa, Dawro, and Konta People's Democratic Organization or WGGPDO [leader NA]; dozens of small parties AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dirk HOLEMANS]; Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Yves LETERME]; note - used to be the Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUK, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT]; Francophone Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH (used to be Social Christian Party or PSC) [Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR (used to be Liberal Reformation Party or PRL) [Antoine DUQUESNE]; Francophone Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; note - was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note - new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU; Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia or CAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros] Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants
Population 67,673,031


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
10,289,088 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 64% (1996) 4%
Population growth rate 2.64% (2002 est.) 0.14% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by agreement with Eritrea using the ports of Assab and Massawa; since the border dispute with Eritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti for nearly all of its imports Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Radio broadcast stations AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001) FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 15.2 million (2002) -
Railways total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)


narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge


note: in 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals and since then Ethiopia has expended considerable effort to repair and maintain the lines; in 2001, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to build a line from Ethiopia to Port Sudan (2000 est.)
total: 3,471 km


standard gauge: 3,471 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2002)
Religions Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8% Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Telephone system general assessment: open wire and microwave radio relay system; adequate for government use


domestic: open wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide the national trunk service


international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities


domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network


international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Telephones - main lines in use 231,900 (2000) 4.769 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,800 (2000) 974,494 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 plus 24 repeaters (2002) 25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Total fertility rate 6.94 children born/woman (2002 est.) 1.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 7.2% (2002 est.)
Waterways none 1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)
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