The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa and consists of 12 regions. It borders Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan and Kenya. The most important regions are Oromia, Amhara and Southern Nations. Ethiopia is the 10th largest country in Africa with a surface area of 1,104,300 square kilometers. Its climate is of the tropical monsoon type with variations due to the different geography. Its terrain is characterized by high plateaus and an extensive highland complex of mountains.
The overall population is over 113 million people making it the 2nd most populated country in Africa. The capital of the country is Addis Ababa. It is also the most populous city with 3.2 million inhabitants. Other important cities of the nation are Mekelle, Gondar and Adama. The largest airport is Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). It has an approximate yearly passenger traffic of 12 million people. It is home of national carrier Ethiopian Airlines, which connects the country to destinations around the world.
Ethiopian culture is dominated by a mix of Arabic, Italian, Indian and Malaysian heritage. The main religion of the country is the Orthodox belief. There is a multitude of languages in the country, which are all accepted as official languages. The legal system is the civil law. The government form is a federal parliamentary republic. President Sahle-Work Zwede is the elected chief of state and the head of government is Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Elections take place every 6 years.
The official currency of the country is the Ethiopian birr (ETB) with the current exchange rate being ETB 53 to the USD. Ethiopia has a state planned economy, generating a GDP of approximately $272 billion. This makes it the 6th largest economy in Africa. It has a per capita income of $2,772. The main GDP contributing sectors are services, industry and agriculture. The main export products are textiles, leather, chemicals, cereals, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables and khat.
Ethiopia is an exciting tourism destination offering many attractions. It is known for its wildlife and national parks. There are nine UNESCO world heritage sites scattered across the country. The main tourist activities are trekking, sightseeing and animal watching. Some popular destinations are Lalibela, Harar, the Babile Elephant Sanctuary, The Rift Valley, the Blue Nile Falls, the Omo Valley, Gondar, the capital Addis Ababa and the Simien Mountains. Ethiopia is welcoming approximately 2.5 million touristic visitors a year.
