ALKAN HEALTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING
Course name: Geography of Ethiopia and the horn
Assignment on Age and Sex Structure of Ethiopian Population, Population Distribution in
Ethiopia, Socio-cultural Aspects of Ethiopian Population, and Settlement Types and
Patterns
Year (2017 entry)
Prepared by Section A
1. Hana Chala
2. Amarech Sime
3. Bilisuma Bayisa
4. Lalise Biratu
5.Yaynabeba Kifle
6. Betelem Mekonnen
7. Hawi Solomon

Submitted to: Mr. Wondwosen fani

Submission date: 6/6/2017
Table of Contents
Reference.....................................................................................................................................................9
7.4. Age and Sex Structure of Ethiopian Population
Ethiopia has a young and rapidly growing population, with a structure typical of many
developing countries. Here are key aspects of its age and sex structure:
1. Age Structure:
Age structure refers to the proportions of individuals at different life stages within a population,
and it is an important indicator of population status.
Ethiopia has a pyramid-shaped age distribution, with a large proportion of young people due to
high birth rates and declining mortality rates.
0-14 years: ~40% of the population (high youth dependency ratio)
15-64 years: ~56% (working-age population)
65+ years: ~4% (low proportion of elderly)
This distribution indicates a high population growth rate, a significant burden on resources
(healthcare, education), and potential for a demographic dividend if youth employment is
improved.
 About half of our population is young, and the number of people in their senior years is
quite tiny. The median age is roughly 17 years old due to the population's preponderance
of youthful people. The high birth rate and natural increase are responsible for the young
age group's high percentage, whereas the high death rate, which leads to a low life
expectancy, is the cause of the old age group's tiny percentage.
 The current population of Ethiopia in 2025 is 132,938,555, a 2.48% increase from 2024.
 The population of Ethiopia in 2024 was 129,719,719, a 2.52% increase from 2023.
 The population of Ethiopia in 2023 was 126,527,060, a 2.55% increase from 2022.
 The population of Ethiopia in 2022 was 123,379,924, a 2.57% increase from 2021.
Figure 1.Population pyramid of Ethiopia, 2025
Heavy youth dependency has several serious socioeconomic implications on Ethiopia’s
development, including:
1. Economic Strain
Increased Public Spending: More government resources must be allocated to education,
healthcare, and childcare.
Limited Savings & Investment: High dependency reduces household savings and limits capital
investment for economic growth.
Slower Economic Growth: A large non-working population creates a burden on the working-age
group, slowing productivity and economic expansion.
2. Education & Workforce Challenges
Overburdened Education System: High enrollment rates put pressure on schools, teachers, and
infrastructure.
Quality of Education: Limited resources can lead to lower education quality and high dropout
rates.
Youth Unemployment & Job Creation Issues: The economy must create enough jobs for the
growing labor force; failure to do so leads to high unemployment and underemployment.
3. Social & Health Challenges
High Demand for Healthcare: More children require immunization, nutrition programs, and
pediatric care.
Risk of Malnutrition & Poverty: Families with many dependents may struggle to provide
adequate food and healthcare.
Increased Crime & Social Unrest: Unemployed youth can lead to higher crime rates, political
instability, and social unrest.
4. Pressure on Infrastructure & Urbanization
Rapid Urbanization: Many young people migrate to cities in search of opportunities, causing
overcrowding and slum expansion.
Housing & Transportation Issues: Growing populations create demand for housing, roads, and
public services, often exceeding government capacity.
5. Potential for Demographic Dividend
If well-managed, a large youth population can become a demographic dividend, driving
innovation and economic growth through proper investments in education, skills, and job
creation.
2. Sex Ratio:
The sex structure of Ethiopia’s population refers to the proportion of males and females within
different age groups. It is usually expressed as:
The sex ratio is generally balanced, though it varies slightly by age group:
At birth: Slightly more males than females (natural pattern)
In childhood and working age: Close to 1:1
In old age: More females than males due to higher female life expectancy
 According to recent data, Ethiopia's population has a slightly female-dominant sex
structure, with around 99 males for every 100 females, meaning there are slightly more
females than males in the country; this is considered a lower sex ratio compared to the
global average.
 Age also has an impact on sex ratios. Males tend to be more numerous at birth and in
early life, but as people age, their numbers decline. As a result, sex ratios are low in adult
and elderly age groups and high in younger age groups. More male births result in more
boys and a higher sex ratio in childhood, but when male child mortality rises, the gap
closes and sex ratios drop to less than 100 in the twenties and thirties.
Ethiopia's population is concentrated in the highlands, with the majority of people living in the
Oromia and Amhara regions. The population density in Ethiopia has been increasing over the
years.
7.5. Population distribution
Ethiopia’s population distribution is highly uneven, influenced by geography, climate, and
economic activities. While some regions have dense populations, others remain sparsely
populated due to harsh environmental conditions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for
effective planning and resource allocation.
1. Distribution in Urban and Rural Areas
 Approximately 80% of Ethiopians reside in rural areas, where they work primarily in
agriculture and animal farming.
 Population in Cities (~20%): With the fast expansion of regional capitals like Addis
Ababa and Dire Dawa, urbanization is on the rise.
 Urban areas are growing due to migration, industrialization, and better access to services
like education and healthcare.
2. Regional Population Distribution
Ethiopia is divided into 11 regions and 2 chartered cities (Addis Ababa & Dire Dawa).
Population distribution varies significantly:
Densely Populated Areas:
Central & Northern Highlands
 Includes Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray regions.
 Higher population concentrations are found in the highlands where the largest
agricultural potential exist (rainfall is adequate and soil is fertile). These areas are suitable
for crop cultivation and mixed farming and the population engaged in agricultural
activities have traditionally settled here.
 Addis Ababa has over 5 million residents.
Southern Regions (SNNPR, Sidama, etc.)
 These areas have high population densities due to agricultural productivity.
Sparsely Populated Areas:
Afar & Somali Regions (Eastern Lowlands)
  Hot & arid climate makes settlement difficult.
 Pastoralism is the dominant lifestyle.
 Western Lowlands (Gambella & Benishangul-Gumuz).
Western Lowlands (Gambella & Benishangul-Gumuz)
 Low population density due to dense forests, malaria prevalence, and poor infrastructure.
7.5.1. Measures of Population Distribution
Measures of population distribution describe how people are spread across a given area. These
measures help geographers, urban planners, and policymakers understand settlement patterns and
resource allocation. The main measures include:
Population density
Population density is the number of people per square kilometer of land. Ethiopia's population
density has been increasing over the years. In 2022, the population density was 111.1 people per
square kilometer.
Formula:
Population Density = Total Population
Land Area (km²)
Three Methods of Calculating Population Density
There are three different ways of expressing the population density of our planet. These different
methods are used to explain the relationship between people and the environment, so that
geographers can understand the impact that population has on their quality of life, the services
that governments can provide them, and the impact that humans have on our planet’s resources.
Physiological Density
Physiological density is the number of persons per unit of agricultural land. This measure helps
in understanding the relationship between population and resources, especially in areas where
not all land is suitable for farming. Physiological density is also helpful when studying
population pressure and overcrowding. It's calculated by dividing the population of a region by
the amount of arable land in that region.
 Arable land includes land used for temporary crops, meadows, gardens, and fallow land.
 A higher physiological density means that more people are using the available
agricultural land.
  A country with a higher physiological density may reach its agricultural output limit
sooner than a country with a lower physiological density.

Agricultural Density
 The measure of population density refers to the number of people living in rural areas per
unit of agricultural land.
 This is a kind of density, which takes only agricultural population as a numerator and
cultivated land as a denominator.
 You do not count people who live in cities when calculating the agricultural density, only
the estimated number of people actually living off the farmland.
 To find the agricultural density, divide the area of farmland by the population of farmers
in that area, giving you an average of land worked by each farmer.
 This density measure is more meaningful than both crude and physiological density
measures as it gives a better indication of the pressure of population on land resources.
 It helps assess the efficiency of agricultural production and the pressure on land
resources.

Formula:
Agricultural Density =Number of Farmers
Arable Land Area (sq km)
 For example, if a region has 100 farmers working on 50 square kilometers of farmland,
the agricultural density would be 2 farmers per square kilometer.
 The two factors that explain variations in agricultural density are the proportion of
cultivated land and urban population of the regions. Other things being equal, agricultural
density tends to be higher where both the percentage of cultivated land and the
percentage of urban population are low.
 Rural population per square kilometer of cropland is the highest for Somali Afar and
Gambella. SNNP region also has a high ratio compared to the national average owing to
the high population relative to their agricultural land. The smallest agricultural density
lies in Benishangul (3.8), Amahra (5), Oromia (5.6) and Tigray (5.9)
Impact of agricultural density on land use:
1. Increased agricultural land conversion:
 Higher agricultural density typically leads to more land being converted from natural
ecosystems like forests to cropland to meet food demands.
2. Intensification of farming practices:
 To maximize production on limited land, farmers may adopt practices like multiple
cropping, increased fertilizer use, and higher stocking densities, which can have
environmental consequences.
3. Smaller farm sizes:
 In areas with high agricultural density, land is often divided into smaller parcels, leading
to smaller farm sizes.
4. Pressure on water resources:
 Intensive agriculture in densely populated areas can put significant stress on water
availability due to increased irrigation needs.
5. Biodiversity loss:
 Conversion of natural habitats to farmland can lead to a decline in biodiversity.

7.5.2. Factors Affecting Population Distribution in Ethiopia

Ethiopia's population distribution is highly uneven due to various physical, economic, social, and
political factors. Some regions, such as the highlands, are densely populated, while others, like
the lowlands, have sparse populations.
1. Physical Factors
a) Climate
Areas with moderate temperatures and reliable rainfall, such as the Ethiopian highlands (e.g.,
Addis Ababa, Gondar), attract high populations.
Harsh climates, such as the hot and arid lowlands (Afar, Somali regions), discourage settlement.
b) Topography
Flat and fertile lands in the central and northern highlands support agriculture and dense
populations.
Mountainous, rugged, or desert terrains (e.g., Bale Mountains, Danakil Depression) have
difficult living conditions and low population densities.
c) Soil Fertility
Fertile volcanic soils in highland regions encourage farming and attract settlements.
Poor soils in the lowlands and desert areas limit agriculture and discourage population growth.
2. Economic Factors
a) Agricultural Potential
Most Ethiopians depend on subsistence farming, so fertile areas (Amhara, Oromia) are densely
populated.
Dry and less fertile areas (e.g., Somali, Afar regions) have low population densities.
b) Industrial and Employment Opportunities
Cities like Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, and Hawassa attract people due to better job opportunities.
Rural areas with limited industries experience outmigration.
c) Infrastructure Development
Areas with good transportation networks, healthcare, and education (e.g., urban centers) have
higher populations.
Remote areas with poor infrastructure remain sparsely populated.
3. Social Factors
a) Cultural Preferences
Some ethnic groups, such as the highland communities, prefer traditional settlements, leading to
high population densities.
Pastoralist groups in the lowlands, such as the Afar and Somali, prefer mobile lifestyles, leading
to low population densities.
b) Historical Settlement Patterns
Ancient civilizations and religious centers (e.g., Axum, Lalibela) continue to have higher
populations.
Some regions remain underpopulated due to past conflicts or displacement.
4. Political Factors
a) Government Policies
Resettlement programs have influenced migration patterns (e.g., people moved from
overpopulated highlands to lowlands).
Investment in urban development has led to rapid urbanization in major cities.
b) Security and Stability
Regions with ongoing conflicts (e.g., some parts of Oromia and Amhara) may experience
depopulation due to migration.
Stable regions attract more people for economic and social opportunities.

7.6. Socio-cultural Aspects of Ethiopian Population: Education, Health and Languages

Ethiopia is a diverse country with a rich socio-cultural background, reflected in its education
system, healthcare services, and linguistic diversity. These aspects significantly influence the
country's development and social structure.
7.5.1. Education
 A higher level of education is associated with better health, a longer lifespan, lower
mortality, and higher incomes. Therefore, the growth of human capital is both a cause
and an effect of development..
 Education is also a human right. The total number of primary schools in Ethiopia was
34,867 in 2016; while gross enrollment at primary first and second cycles (grade 1-8) was
9,407,490. There were 3,156 secondary schools in 2016 in Ethiopia. The national gross
enrolment ratio for all secondary grades was 29.04%, (Addis Ababa has the highest GER
at 82.27 %.) Nationally GER for males is higher compared to females, though in Tigray,
Amhara and Addis Ababa more females are attending secondary education. Afar and
Somali regions have the lowest enrolment rate in secondary education.
 However, the recent developments are encouraging and primary education is almost
universalized and there is at least one primary school in each rural kebele. The number of
public universities has reached 45 today from only 2 in the early 1990s; where hundreds
of thousands of students are enrolled in the tertiary level of education every year.
7.6.2. Health
The Government has been investing heavily in health system strengthening through its pro-poor
policies and strategies that brought about significant gains in improving the health status of
Ethiopians.
•However, Ethiopia has still a heavy burden of diseases but alow rateof self-reported illness and
low health facility coverage and utilization.
The majority of ill health in Ethiopia is related to potentially;
•preventable,
•communicable diseases and nutritional disorders.
Some of the root causes of the poor health status of the population are:
1.Lack of access to clean water
2.Lack of adequate nutrition
3.Illness associated with traditional practices, attitudes, and actions such as circumcision, early
marriage, and low value of girls
4.Lack of health services
The major killer diseases accounting for about ¾ of all deaths include;
 prenatal-maternal conditions,
 acute respiratory infection,
 malaria,
 nutritional deficiency for children under 5 years,
 diarrhea,
 AIDS and –Tuberculosis.
The current health workforce
Doctors 0.04/1000 population 1 doctor for 26,943 people
Nurses 0.43/1000 population 1 nurse for 2,311 people
Midwives 0.05/1000 population 1 midwife for 21,810 people

 The country implemented a plan to train midwives and health extension workers (HEP)
and increase family planning in order to address the poor usage of health services and the
shortage of human resources for health.
 Ethiopian regions differ in terms of the number of people per hospital and hospital bed.In
areas such as Amara, Somalia, and SNNP, the population-to-hospital ratio is more than
10,000.Additionally, the population-to-hospital bed ratios are high in these three regions.

7.6.3. Languages Families and Languages of Ethiopia

About 80 different languages are spoken in Ethiopia. Afan Oromo and Amharic were the two
largest mother tongues in Ethiopia, accounting for 33.8% and 29.3% of the total population,
respectively, according to the 2007 Population and Housing Census. Significant numbers of
speakers are also found in Somaligna (6.2%), Tigrigna (5.9%), Sidamigna (4.0%), Wolaytigna
(2.2%), Guragigna (2%), Afarigna (1.7%), Hadyiyagna (1.7%), and Gamogna (1.5%).
The Ethiopian languages belong to two Supper Families:
Afro Asiatic and Nilo-Saharan.
• Most Ethiopian languages belong to the Afro-Asiatic Supper Family.
• Afro-Asiatic: It is divided into three families, namely: Semitic, Cushitic and Omotic.
Afro-Asiatic

• The largest language family in Ethiopia, divided into Semitic and Cushitic branches.
• It is divided into three families, namely: Semitic, Cushitic and Omotic

Cushitic

• It has the largest number of speakers and the widest spatial coverage.
• Cushitic is by far the largest both in terms of number of languages and of the overall
number of speakers of those languages.
• Cushitic languages are spoken by over 30 million people in Ethiopia, making them
the second largest language family in the country after Semitic languages.
• This family of languages consists of many individual languages such as Oromigna,
Somaligna, Sidamigna, Afarigna, Kembatigna, Hadiyigna, Alabigna, Gedeogna, and
others.
• The only Cushitic languages with more than 1 million speakers are Afar (1.5 million),
Oromo (at least 18 million, all varieties), Sidamo (1.8 million), and Somali (between
10 and 11 million) (Appleyard ,1986).
• They are also spoken in neighboring countries such as Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, and
Djibouti

Semetic
• Spoken mainly in the northern, eastern and central parts of Ethiopia
• Influenced by ancient civilizations, including the Axumite Kingdom.
 • Examples:
Amharic – Official working language of Ethiopia.
Tigrinya – Spoken in Tigray and Eritrea.
Gurage languages – Spoken in central Ethiopia.
Ge'ez – An ancient liturgical language used in Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
• Some of the Semitic Languages include Amarigna, Tigrigna, Guragigna, Siltigna,
Aderigna, and Argobigna.

Reference
 Appleyard D L (1986). ‘Agew, Cushitic and Afroasiatic. The personal pronoun revisited.’
Journal of Semitic Studies 31, 195–236.
 United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World
Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. (Medium variant)