Degem

For the town in Gojjam, see Dejen.

Degem is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Degem is bordered on the south by the Muger River which separates it from the Misraq Welega Zone, on the west by Kuyu, on the northwest by Hidabu Abote, on the north by the Jamma River which separates it from the Amhara Region, on the northeast by Gerar Jarso, and on the east by Yaya Gulelena Debre Liban. Towns in Degem include Alidoro and Anbiso.

Demographics

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 117,583, of whom 59,224 are men and 58,359 are women; 5,168 or 4.40% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 9.5%. With an estimated area of 674.85 square kilometers, Degem has an estimated population density of 174.2 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 143.^[1]

The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 84,718, of whom 42,297 were men and 42,421 women; 2,897 or 3.42% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Degem were the Oromo (88.89%), and the Amhara (10.92%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.19% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 87.41%, and 12.55% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.04% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.99% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 0.7% of the population said they were Protestant.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Tables B.3 and B.4
2. ^ 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Oromia Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.1, 2.13, 2.16, 2.20 (accessed 6 April 2009)

Coordinates: 9°40′N 38°40′E / 9.667°N 38.667°E / 9.667; 38.667