• Known as one of the oldest countries in the world; its civilisation is described in many ancient documents
• Geographically, ecologically and ethnically diverse
• Extreme altitudinal variation, ranging from several very high mountain ranges to one of the lowest areas of land in Africa, the Danakil depression.
• Uninterrupted independence as a result of resistance against invaders since the remotest time
• Own alphabet and religious language
• Christianity and Islam co-existing since 615
• One of the seven fundamental and independent centres of origin of cultivated plants of the world.

Economy

• GDP per capita: 200 US$ (2007 estimate); 10% economic growth registered for the past six consecutive years (2001-2007)
• Agriculture accounts for almost half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment
• Major export commodities include coffee, khat, cut flowers, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds and electric power
• 78% of the population live under the 2 US$ poverty line

Agriculture

• All land owned by the State, which provides long-term leases to the tenants
• Very small land holdings
• Widespread desertification (70% of the land) and soil erosion  (82% of the country)
• Largest livestock population in Africa (35.3 million heads of cattle)
• About 15% of the country's population is pastoral
• Major agricultural products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, khat, cut flowers, hides, cattle, sheep, goats
• Agro-ecological and altitude zones range from the cool zone above 2,400 m to the lowland hot zone (which includes both tropical and arid zones) below 1,500 m

Population

• Third most populous country in Africa, with a population exceeding 82 million in 2008 and growing at an annual rate of 3.2%.
• 46% of the population is less than 14 years old.
• Life expectancy at birth is just below 55 years.
• Some 80 ethnical groups found in 9 Regional States namely Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Harrari, Southern, Benishangul Gumz, Gambella, and 2 Special City Administrations namely Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, and Dire Dawa (East)
• Some 80% of the population live in the highlands; 16% of the population is urban.
• Only 45% of rural households in Ethiopia consume the World Health Organisation’s minimum standard of food per day (2,200 kilocalories), with 42% of children under 5 years old being underweight.
• HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 4.4% (2003 est.).