Aroresa
Encyclopedia
Aroresa is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Located at the tip of the Sidama Zone
that extends into the Oromia Region
like a peninsula, Aroresa is bordered on every side by that Region, except on the west where it is bordered by Bensa
. The major town in Aroresa is Mejo.
According to a 2004 report, Aroresa had 20 kilometers of all-weather roads and no kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 23 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 134,384, of whom 65,461 are men and 68,923 are women; 3,011 or 2.24% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.9%. With an estimated area of 853.13 square kilometers, Aroresa has an estimated population density of 157.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 430.03.
In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 94,923, of whom 48,703 were men and 46,220 women; 1,662 or 1.75% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Aroresa were the Sidama
(96.6%), the Oromo
(2.46%), and the Amhara
(0.77%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.17% of the population. Sidamo
is spoken as a first language by 96.92% of the inhabitants, 2.38% speak Oromiffa
, and 0.64% Amharic
; the remaining 0.06% spoke all other primary languages reported. 83.12% of the population said they were Protestants
, 6.65% observed traditional religions, 4.51% were Muslim
, and 2.63% were Ethiopian Orthodox. Concerning education
, 10.24% of the population were considered literate; 2.80% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; a negligible number of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 0.19% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 68.6% of the urban houses and 6.39% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census, while about 13.37% of the urban and 3.79% of the total had toilet facilities.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Located at the tip of the Sidama Zone
Sidama Zone
Sidama is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . It is named for the Sidama people, whose homeland is located in this zone...
that extends into the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
like a peninsula, Aroresa is bordered on every side by that Region, except on the west where it is bordered by Bensa
Bensa
Bensa is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone that extends into the Oromia Region like a peninsula, Bensa is bordered on the southeast and north by the Oromia Region, with Hula on the west and Arbegona on the...
. The major town in Aroresa is Mejo.
According to a 2004 report, Aroresa had 20 kilometers of all-weather roads and no kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 23 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 134,384, of whom 65,461 are men and 68,923 are women; 3,011 or 2.24% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.9%. With an estimated area of 853.13 square kilometers, Aroresa has an estimated population density of 157.5 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 430.03.
In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 94,923, of whom 48,703 were men and 46,220 women; 1,662 or 1.75% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Aroresa were the Sidama
Sidama people
The Sidama people of southern Ethiopia are an ethnic group whose homeland is in the Sidama Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. They number 2,966,474 of whom 149,480 are urban inhabitants, the fifth most populous nation in Ethiopia...
(96.6%), the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(2.46%), and the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(0.77%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.17% of the population. Sidamo
Sidamo language
Sidamo is an Afro-Asiatic language, belonging to the Cushitic branch, part of the Highland East Cushitic group. It is spoken in parts of southern Ethiopia....
is spoken as a first language by 96.92% of the inhabitants, 2.38% speak Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
, and 0.64% Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
; the remaining 0.06% spoke all other primary languages reported. 83.12% of the population said they were Protestants
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
, 6.65% observed traditional religions, 4.51% were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
, and 2.63% were Ethiopian Orthodox. Concerning education
Education in Ethiopia
Education in Ethiopia has been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Prior to 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and...
, 10.24% of the population were considered literate; 2.80% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; a negligible number of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school; and 0.19% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
, about 68.6% of the urban houses and 6.39% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census, while about 13.37% of the urban and 3.79% of the total had toilet facilities.