Ethiopia's population is heterogeneous in its ethnic and religious composition and is of great interest to anthropologists and ethnologists. The historical fate of this region of the African continent was very difficult. For hundreds of years, an amazing conglomerate has formed in the country from representatives of local tribes and alien conquerors, immigrants and nomads. Ethiopia's population strikingly combines religious groups that all over the world give the impression of implacable opponents: Christianity, Islam, Judaism and traditional cults.
Statistical data
Ethiopia is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa (77 people per sq. Km). At the same time, 75% of the population is concentrated in the northern and central regions of the country.
- Ethiopia's population is growing rapidly: as of 2014, it was already over 90, and ten years earlier, in 2004, it was only 67 million people. In the north of the continent, more people live only in Egypt.
- Representatives of more than 80 ethnic groups live in the country, some of them consist of several separate tribes. The Oromo and Amhara peoples prevail in numbers.
- Ethiopia's largest and most populous cities are the capital of Addis Ababa, as well as Dyre Daua, Harer. Ethiopia's population density has always been heterogeneous. Cities are very densely populated, and rural residents make up a small percentage.
Ethiopian population: ethnic picture
Among the many nationalities living in Ethiopia, the most numerous and influential ethnic groups stand out. These are the Amhara and Oromo prevailing in the country, as well as several other groups.
Amhara About 1/3 of Ethiopian citizens belong to this ethnic group. The habitat is north and center of the country, upland areas of the regions of Gonder, Shoa and Gojam. It is thanks to the language and culture of the Amhar that the Ethiopian nation was formed. Today, Amhara also make up a large part of the urban population.
Unique race
Amhara belong to a unique Ethiopian race - a transitional type between the Negroid and Caucasoid races. The formation of the ethnos began, according to historical sources, around the 13th century. The overwhelming majority of Amhara are Monophysite Christians belonging to the local Ethiopian Orthodox Church. However, among them one can meet believers of other Christian movements and even Muslims.
The main occupations of the population of Ethiopia, in particular amhara, are based on arable farming and cattle breeding. In the irrigated gardens and orchards, different types of local and imported from other continents cereals, vegetables and fruits are grown. Amhar people breed cattle and small cattle, poultry, and beekeeping. Folk crafts developed in such areas as blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, manufacturing of leather and bone products, wickerwork, jewelry. Nowadays, especially in big cities, Ethiopia’s population is the same as millions of people around the world: they work in manufacturing or in the service sector.
Ancient Oromo tribe
Oromo (obsolete name - galla). This ethnic group is the second largest, but it is much less homogeneous than amhara. Different tribes and nationalities in the Oromo are not only distinguished by traditions, but by the faith of most members, the nature of the organization of political, economic and social life
Oromo belong to the Kushi-speaking part of the population of Ethiopia. Once they were nomads, and their habitat was located in the plains southeastern regions of the country. In the 16th century, the Oromo raided the Amhara settlements, displacing the indigenous population farther to the north. At that time, the Oromo were pagans who professed traditional ethnic beliefs. After the invasion of Ethiopia, many of them converted to Islam, a minority converted to Christianity. Partly the change of religion of the former nomads was stimulated by the prospects of a more solid social position and obtaining public office. To this day, among the Oromo, there are quite a lot of adherents of pre-Christian cults.
Today, Oromo prevail in the population of the eastern part of the Ethiopian Highlands. In the south of this area there are quite significant cattle-breeding communities, which still adhere to the traditional way of life. They profess an archaic cult that deifies the earth and the sky, and consider their first ancestor the legendary Oromo, whose name was the name of the ethnos. The traditional Oromo society is divided into castes, depending on the occupation, gender and age of the group member.
Somalia
This people previously made up the population of united Somalia, now it is divided into two large sub-ethnic groups:
- Somale
- sub (live in the southern regions of the country).
All Somali belong to the Kushi-speaking group. The historically formed region of their residence is the arid eastern and southeastern outskirts of Ethiopia (the Ogaden region, etc.). In ethnic terms, Somalia is closer to the border population of Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia proper than to Amhara and Oromo.
Other ethnic groups
Yeah The once significant ethnic community living on the Ethiopian Highlands. By now, the aghau is almost completely assimilated by amhara. Agau's own language belonged to the Cushite group.
To date, the Agau, retaining their ethnic identity, live north of Lake Tana. Among the agau, there are two predominant religious denominations - these are the Jews (a kind of Falash) and the Kemeth. The latter is found only in Ethiopia and is a complex syncretic religion: there are elements of traditional pagan cults, Christianity and Judaism. In addition, the cult practice of Kamet remains a mystery to outsiders, and it is impossible to turn to Kamet for someone who was not born a bearer of this faith.
Gurage. Ethiopian major ethnic groups also include the seven-language ethnic groups of gurages, traditionally employed in agriculture.
Tigers. A population group very close to Amhara, the descendants of the Aksumite civilization. They live in the north-east of the Ethiopian Highlands.
This is what the general population of Ethiopia looks like. A diverse conglomeration of ethnic groups, religions and races is a hallmark of this North African country. The economic activities of the population of Ethiopia are diverse. And in terms of population, it is one of the most ethnically heterogeneous countries.