Dara (woreda)

Dara is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Dara is bordered on the south by the Gedeo Zone and on either side of it by the Oromia Region, on the northwest by Aleta Wendo, and on the northeast by Hula. Towns in Dara include Kebado and Teferi Kela.

According to a 2004 report, Dara had 8 kilometers of asphalt road, 66 kilometers of all-weather roads and 16 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 369 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.^[1]

Demographics

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 150,256, of whom 75,948 are men and 74,308 are women; 9,295 or 6.19% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.9%. With an estimated area of 243.75 square kilometers, Dara has an estimated population density of 616.4 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 430.03.^[2]

In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 105,196, of whom 52,043 were men and 53,153 women; 5,130 or 4.88% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Dara were the Sidama (89.68%), the Amhara (5.28%), the Silte (1.62%), and the Oromo (1.37%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.05% of the population. Sidamo is spoken as a first language by 92.54% of the inhabitants, and 5.42% speak Amharic; the remaining 2.04% spoke all other primary languages reported. 64.4% of the population said they were Protestants, 15.82% observed traditional religions, 11.85% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 4.23% were Muslim, and 1.4% were Catholic.^[3] Concerning education, 27.91% of the population were considered literate; 9.76% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 1.82% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 1.36% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions, about 62.94% of the urban houses and 20.04% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census, while about 83.53% of the urban and 28.97% of the total had toilet facilities.^[4]

Notes

1. ^ "Detailed statistics on roads", SNNPR Bureau of Finance and Economic Development website (accessed 15 September 2009)
2. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Tables B.3 and B.4
3. ^ 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.11, 2.15, 2.19 (accessed 30 December 2008)
4. ^ 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.1, 2.12, 2.19, 3.5, 3.7, 6.3, 6.11, 6.13 (accessed 30 December 2008)

Coordinates: 6°30′N 38°25′E / 6.5°N 38.417°E / 6.5; 38.417