Ethiopia is an ancient land with over 2,000 years of tradition. The country sits in Northeast Africa between Somalia, Sudan and Kenya. Most countries in Africa were colonized by European countries during the 18th and 19th centuries, but Ethiopia remained free. The country was occupied briefly by Italy during World War II. This doesn’t mean Ethiopia has been free of conflict. Ethiopia has endured years of war.
Another problem is that of drought and famine. Ethiopia is a dry country with little rain. As people cut the trees down for firewood, the soil blows away so crops won’t grow. Over seven million people here don’t have enough food. Health care is almost non-existent. There is one doctor for every 24,000 people.
Fun Facts About Ethiopia for Kids
- Over 107 million people live in Ethiopia.
- Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia.
- The Prime Minister of Ethiopia is Abiy Ahmed (updated October 2018).
- The land mass of Ethiopia is 455,186 square miles.
- Erta Ale is Ethiopia’s most active volcano. It is 613 meters high and also contains a lava lake.
- The official language is Amharic, although there are over 286 languages spoken by 86 ethnic groups.
- The life expectancy in Ethiopia is 58.72 years.
- 49.1% percent of adults can read.
- Ethiopian birr is the currency used in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia Vocabulary
- Colonized: forcibly settled by foreigners
- Occupied: invaded by another country
- Drought: lack of water
- Famine: lack of food
All About Ethiopia Video for Kids
Here’s a great video for kids on Ethiopian Culture:
Ethiopia Q&A
Question: Do wealthy western nations help countries like Ethiopia?
Answer: Good question. The United States, the World Bank and the European Union send millions of dollars to poor countries every year. Private foundations and churches also send money.
Map of Ethiopia
Here’s a map of the country of Ethiopia and all its cities and villages. Zoom in to get into street level or zoom out to see other countries around Ethiopia! You can see the terrain, but also see the roads, images of the buildings and even take a 3D tour through the streets of the cities of Ethiopia, as though you are actually there!
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