South Wollo Zone

Demographics

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 2,518,862, an increase of 18.60% over the 1994 census, of whom 1,248,698 are men and 1,270,164 women; with an area of 17,067.45 square kilometers, South Wollo has a population density of 147.58. While 301,638 or 11.98% are urban inhabitants, a further 3 individuals were reported to be pastoralists. A total of 1598,447 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.21 persons to a household, and 1574,378 housing units. The largest ethnic group reported in South Wollo was the Amhara (96.33%); all other ethnic groups made up 3.67% of the population. Amharic is spoken as a first language by 98.65%; the remaining 1.35% spoke all other primary languages reported. 65.89% were Muslim, and 34.11% of the population said they practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.

The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 4,123,803 in 498,480 households, of whom 2,047,512 were men and 2,076,291 women; 1,210,291 or 9.9% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in South Wollo were the Amhara (96.68%), and the Oromo (2.78%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.54% of the population. Amharic was spoken as a first language by 96.45%, and 3.13% spoke Oromiffa; the remaining 0.42% spoke all other primary languages reported.

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 13% of the inhabitants of South Wollo have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 76.1 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers), the average rural household has 0.7 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.75 for the Amhara Region)Comparative national and regional figures comes from another World Bank publication, Klaus Deininger et al. "Tenure Security and Land Related Investment", WP-2991 (accessed 23 March 2006). and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 10.6% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a regional average of 21%. 63% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 12% in secondary schools. 45% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 557.

Notes

References

1. [http://www.geohive.com/cntry/ethiopia.aspx Geohive: Ethiopia] {{webarchive. link. (2012-08-05)
2. [http://www.ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2009/Aug/24Aug09/95294.htm "Zone gets 540 safe water units"]{{Dead link. (September 2018)
3. [https://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Statistical_Amhara.pdf Census 2007 Tables: Amhara Region], Table 3.4 Population by Religion and Sex.
4. "[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&theSitePK=523679&entityID=000112742_20030530104124&searchMenuPK=64187283&theSitePK=523679 Ethiopia - Second Road Sector Development Program Project]", p.3 (World Bank Project Appraisal Document, published 19 May 2003)
5. [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTETHIOPIA/Resources/PREM/FourEthiopiasrev6.7.5.May24.pdf World Bank, ''Four Ethiopias: A Regional Characterization''] (accessed 23 March 2006).