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Who are the people?

A remarkable mix of peoples, languages, and cultures coexists in the African nation of Ethiopia. It is home to more than 75 million people speaking 80 different languages.

The population is overwhelmingly rural, with the highest density of people found in the central highlands. Ethiopians generally live with their extended families in a group of thatched huts that are clustered together.

Approximately 90 percent of the country’s residents earn their living as subsistence farmers. They grow just enough food to feed their families and cannot purchase many essential items.

Educational opportunities are limited. Only 31 percent of children between the ages of 7 and 15 attend school. Many people lack access to health care. Important services like schools and medical facilities are often found only in urban areas. World Vision is helping Ethiopia’s families by making improvements to their food security and water programs, education, and health care.

Ethiopians sometimes refer to their cousins as “brother” or “sister” and to their aunts and uncles as “mother” and “father.” For this reason, letters from your sponsored child might refer to varying numbers of siblings or other relatives.

What is it like to live there?

The East African country of Ethiopia is bordered by Somalia to the north, Djibouti and Eritrea to the east, Kenya to the south, and Sudan to the west. Unlike most African nations, it was never a European colony.


 
Country Statistics 
Population77.4 million
Land Mass432,310 sq. miles
Life Expectancy49 years
Infant Mortality Rate109 / 1,000
Literacy Rate42%
School Enrollment31%
Access to Safe Water22%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)US$160
 
 
Ethiopia has been important to the modern history of Africa as a symbol of independence. In the last 25 years, the Ethiopian people have faced difficult upheavals, including major famines, which took the lives of two million people.

Ethiopia’s topography varies greatly—from rugged highlands to dense forests to lowland plains. Temperatures and rainfall differ according to elevation. The hottest areas are along the borders. The coolest are in the central highlands. Hail, morning frost, and even snow are common at the higher levels. Three-quarters of the precipitation falls between mid-June and early September, with a smaller amount from late February to early May.

Wildlife is abundant in Ethiopia. It is home to monkeys, antelopes, hyenas, warthogs, and more than 100 types of birds. Elephants, lions, and giraffes live in some areas. Ethiopia was one of the earliest world centers of agricultural innovation, thanks to its fertile volcanic soil. Today Ethiopia remains largely dependent on agriculture, with coffee accounting for 50 percent of export earnings.

How You Can Pray for Your Sponsored Child
  • Pray that churches and families will respond to God’s call to care for orphans and widows, especially those affected by HIV and AIDS.
  • Pray that your sponsored child might respond to God’s love and grace.
  • Ask God to guide your sponsored child as she or he learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
  • Pray that God protects the health of your sponsored child and her or his family.
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