Gurage Zone

Gurage is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). This zone is named for the Gurage people, whose homeland lies in this zone. It is reported that at a referendum in 2000 the Silt'e unanimously voted to form their own Zone, Silt'e, consisting of the woredas of Dalocha, Lanfro and Silti, Azernet-Berbere and Sankurra.

Gurage is bordered on the south by Hadiya on the west north and east by the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by Kembata Alaba and Tembaro (KAT). Its highest point is Mount Gurage. Welkite is the administrative center of the Zone; other towns in Gurage include Butajira and Worabe.

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 7,624 tons of coffee were produced in Gurage, Hadiya and KAT combined in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 7.6% of the SNNPR's output and 3.36% of Ethiopia's total output. [ [http://www.statsethiopia.org/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table D.2]

Demographics

Based on figures from the CSA, [CSA 2005 National Statistics, Tables B.3 and B.4] in 2005 this zone has an estimated total population of 2,224,315, of whom 1,078,965 were males and 1,145,350 were females; 139,491 or 6.3% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 7,992.22 square kilometers, Gurage has an estimated population density of 278.31 people per square kilometer. [The Zonal government own statistics vary from the CSA's: its " [http://www.guragezone.gov.et/Development/Summary%20of%20socio%20economic%20profile%20english.pdf Socio-economic profile summary] " (accessed 19 August 2007) reports an area of 8002 square kilometers, and an estimated total population of 1,577,074 of whom 763,643 were males and 813,431 females, for an average population density of 197.08 people per square kilometer.] The largest ethnic groups in the Zone are reported to be Gurage (89%), Marekos (2%), and Kebeanas (1.8%). [Gurage Zonal government, "Socio-economic profile summary"]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 3% of the inhabitants of Gurage have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 95.4 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers, the average rural household has 0.5 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.89 for the SNNPR) [Comparative national and regional figures comes from the World Bank publication, [http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?ImgPagePK=64202990&entityID=000094946_03032704080562&menuPK=64168175&pagePK=64210502&theSitePK=477938&piPK=64210520 Klaus Deininger et al. "Tenure Security and Land Related Investment", WP-2991] (accessed 23 March 2006)] the equivalent of 0.2 heads of livestock. 18.9% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 32%. 79% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 12% in secondary schools. 18% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and 38% to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 319. [ [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTETHIOPIA/Resources/PREM/FourEthiopiasrev6.7.5.May24.pdf World Bank, "Four Ethiopias: A Regional Characterization"] (accessed 23 March 2006).]

Woredas

*Cheha
*Dalocha
*Enemorina Eaner
*Ezhana Wolene
*Goro
*Gumer
*Kokir Gedebano Gutazer
*Lanfro
*Meskanena Mareko
*Silte
*Sodo

Notes

External links

* [http://www.guragezone.gov.et/ Gurage Zone Government web page]