Northeast Africa.

GMT + 3.

1,133,380 sq km (437,600 sq miles).

74.2 million (UN, 2005).

65.5 per sq km.

Addis Ababa. Population: 2.4 million (1994 Census).

Ethiopia is situated in northeast Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti. It is about twice the size of France. The central area is a vast highland region of volcanic rock forming a watered, temperate zone surrounded by hot, arid, inhospitable desert. The Great Rift Valley, which starts in Palestine, runs down the Red Sea and diagonally southwest through Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi. The escarpments on either side of the country are steepest in the north where the terrain is very rugged. To the south, the landscape is generally flatter and more suited to agriculture.

Under the provisions of a new Constitution, adopted in December 1994, Ethiopia became a federation – the newly designated Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – consisting of nine states and one metropolitan area (the capital, Addis Ababa); each with its own parliamentary assemblies. The legislature is the bicameral Federal Parliamentary Assembly. The lower chamber, Yehizbtewekayoch Mekir Bet (Council of People’s Representatives), comprises 527 directly elected deputies. The upper chamber, Yefederashn Mekir Bet (Council of the Federation), has 117 delegates from the state assemblies and from Ethiopia’s 22 recognised national minorities. The Federal Parliamentary Assembly elects a President as Head of State, although executive power remains largely the preserve of the Prime Minister, who is elected by the Council of People’s Representatives.

Federal Republic. Head of State: President Woldegiorgis Girma since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister Meles Zenawi since 1995. With the exception of a five-year occupation by Mussolini's Italy, Ethiopia is the only African country never to have been colonised by Europeans. Recent history: The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) of incumbent Premier Meles Zenawi won bitterly contested elections in May 2005, his third five-year mandate as Prime Minister, despite a sharp increase in public support for opposition parties. A large number of electoral complaints were made and the EPRDF and the main opposition both claimed victory as the initial results were announced. Around 36 people were killed and hundreds were arrested in protests sparked by opposition allegations of electoral fraud by the ruling party. The final results, announced in September 2005, gave the EPRDF and its affiliates control of the 547-seat Parliament.

Amharic is the official language, although about 80 other native tongues are spoken including Aromo and Tigrinya. English is widely used and some Arabic, Italian and French is spoken.

Ethiopian Orthodox (Tewahido) and Coptic Church, mainly in the north, 40 per cent; Islam, mainly in the east and south, 40 per cent. There are also significant Evangelical, Protestant and Roman Catholic communities.

Casual wear is suitable for most places, but Ethiopians tend to be fairly formal and conservative in their dress. Private informal entertaining is very common. Most religious houses are not open to women. Photography: In the smaller towns the locals may expect a small payment in return for being photographed. Video photography in famous tourist attractions occasionally carries a small charge. Photography may be prohibited in airports and near military camps.

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