Where We Work : Ethiopia
Country Profile
| Population | 79 million |
| GDP per Capita | US$157 |
| Infant Mortality (per 1,000 births) | 109 |
| Life Expectancy | 51.8 |
| Living with HIV and AIDS | 0.9 – 3.5% |
| Literacy Rate | 35.9% |
| Human Development Rank | 169 (out of 177) |
| More information | Wikipedia |
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, with one of the longest recorded histories in the world. A remarkable mix of peoples, languages, and cultures coexists in the African nation of Ethiopia. It is home to 79 million people speaking 80 different languages.
In the last 25 years, the Ethiopian people have faced difficult upheavals, including major famines, which took the lives of two million people.
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.