The population of Ethiopia 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 conglomeration of representatives of local tribes and alien conquerors, settlers and nomads has formed in the country. Ethiopia's population is a striking mix of religious groups that appear to be implacable opponents around the world: Christianity, Islam, Judaism and traditional cults.
Statistics
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.
- The population of Ethiopia is growing rapidly: as of 2014, it was already more than 90, and a decade 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 on the territory of the country, some of themconsist of several isolated tribes. The Oromo and Amhara peoples predominate in numbers.
The largest and most populous cities in Ethiopia are the capital Addis Ababa, as well as Dire Dawa, Harer. Ethiopia's population density has always been patchy. Cities are very densely populated, and rural residents make up a small percentage
Ethiopian population: ethnic picture
Among the many peoples living in Ethiopia, the most numerous and influential ethnic groups stand out. These are the Amhara and Oromo predominant in the country, as well as several other groups.
Amhara. About 1/3 of the citizens of Ethiopia belong to this ethnic group. The area of residence is the north and center of the country, the mountainous regions of the regions of Gonder, Shoa and Gojjam. It is thanks to the Amhara language and culture that the Ethiopian nation was formed. Today, the Amhara also make up the bulk 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 ethnic group began, according to historical sources, around the 13th century. The overwhelming majority of the Amhara are Monophysite Christians belonging to the local Ethiopian Orthodox Church. However, among them you can meet believers of other Christian denominations and even Muslims.
Basically, the occupation of the population of Ethiopia, in particular the Amhara, is based on arable farming and cattle breeding. On irrigationgardens and orchards grow different types of local and imported from other continents cereals, vegetables and fruits. The Amhara people breed large and small cattle, poultry, and are engaged in beekeeping. Folk crafts developed in such areas as blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, leather and bone products, wickerwork, and jewelry. These days, especially in big cities, the people of Ethiopia are doing the same thing as millions of people around the world: working 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 the Amhara. Different tribes and nationalities in the Oromo differ not only in traditions, but in the religion of the majority of members, the nature of the organization of political, economic and social life
The Oromo belong to the Cushitic-speaking part of the Ethiopian population. Once they were nomads, and their habitat was located in the flat southeastern regions of the country. In the 16th century, Oromo raids on Amhara settlements became more frequent, pushing the indigenous population further 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 smaller part converted to Christianity. In part, the former nomads were stimulated to change their religion by the prospect of a stronger social position and obtaining government posts. To this day, among the Oromo there are quite a lot of adherents of pre-Christian cults.
Today, the Oromo dominate the population of the eastern part of the Ethiopian highlands. In the south of this area, there are quite significant pastoral communities that still adhere to the traditional way of life. They profess an archaic cult that deifies the earth and sky, they consider the legendary Oromo, whose name served as the name of the ethnic group, to be their first ancestor. The traditional Oromo society is divided into castes, depending on the occupation, sex and age of the member of the group.
Somalia
This people was previously the population of the united Somalia, now it is divided into two large sub-ethnic groups:
- somale,
- sub (live in the southern regions of the country).
All Somalis belong to the Cushitic-speaking group. The historically established area of their residence is the arid eastern and southeastern outskirts of Ethiopia (the Ogaden region, etc.). Ethnically, Somalis are closer to the border population of Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia proper than to Amhara and Oromo.
Other ethnic groups
Yeah. Once a significant ethnic community that lived in the Ethiopian highlands. By now, the Agau are almost completely assimilated by the Amhara. Agau's own language belonged to the Cushitic group.
Today, the Agau, who have retained their ethnic identity, live north of Lake Tana. There are two predominant religious denominations among the Agau - Jews (a kind of Falash) and Kemet. The latter is found only in Ethiopia and is a complex syncretic religion:elements of traditional pagan cults, Christianity and Judaism. In addition, the cult practice of Kemet remains a mystery to outsiders, and it is impossible for someone who was not born a bearer of this faith to turn to Kemet.
Gurage. The large ethnic groups of Ethiopia also include the Semitic-speaking peoples of the Gurage, traditionally employed in agriculture.
Tigers. A population group very close to the Amhara, descendants of the Aksumite civilization. They live in the northeast of the Ethiopian highlands.
This is how the population of Ethiopia looks in general terms. A diverse conglomeration of ethnicities, religions and races is a hallmark of this North African country. The economic activity of the Ethiopian population is diverse. And in terms of population composition, it is among the most ethnically heterogeneous countries.
