Chiro (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Chiro is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone
, Chiro is bordered on the south by Kuni
, on the west by Guba Koricha
, on the northwest by Mieso
, on the north by Doba
, on the northeast by Tulo
, and on the east by the Galetti River
which separates it from Mesela
and the Misraq Hararghe Zone
. Towns in Chiro include Asebe Teferi
and Kuni.
The highest peak in Chiro is Mount Arba Gugu (3574 meters). Khat
is an important cash crop of this woreda, but because it is a very perishable commodity and must be cultivated not too far from major markets or good roads, it is grown along the main road. Coffee
is another important cash crop, with over 5,000 hectares is planted with this crop.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 412,938, of whom 201,965 are men and 210,973 are women; 37,296 or 9.03% of its population are urban dwellers, which is about the same as the Zone average of 9.6%. With an estimated area of 1,786.88 square kilometers, Chiro has an estimated population density of 231.1 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 101.8.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 294,295, of whom 150,917 were men and 143,378 women; 20,842 or 7.08% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Chiro were the Oromo
(86.25%), and the Amhara
(12.69%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.06% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 85.23%, and 14.3% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 0.47% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Moslem
, with 82.01% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 17.37% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
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 Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
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...
. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone
Mirab Hararghe Zone
Mirab Hararghe is one of the 17 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Mirab Hararghe takes its name from the former province of Hararghe. Mirab Harerge is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from Bale, on the southwest by Arsi, on the northwest by the Afar Region, on...
, Chiro is bordered on the south by Kuni
Kuni (woreda)
Kuni is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Kuni is bordered on the south by Boke, on the west by Habro, on the northeast by Chiro, and on the east by the Galetti River which separates it from the Misraq Hararghe Zone...
, on the west by Guba Koricha
Guba Koricha
Guba Koricha is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Guba Koricha, according to the OCHA map is bordered on the south by Darolebu, on the southwest by the Arsi Zone, on the west by the Afar Region, on the north by Mieso, on the northeast by...
, on the northwest by Mieso
Mieso, Oromia (woreda)
Mieso is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Mieso is bordered on the south by Guba Koricha, on the west by the Afar Region, on the north by the Somali Region, on the east by Doba and on the southeast by Chiro...
, on the north by Doba
Doba (woreda)
Doba is one of the 180 woredas, or administrative wards, in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is named after its major town Doba. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Doba is bordered on the south by Chiro, on the west by Mieso, on the north by the Somali Region, on the east by the Misraq Hararghe...
, on the northeast by Tulo
Tulo
Tulo is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Tulo is bordered on the south by Mesela, on the west by Chiro, on the north by Doba, and on the east by the Misraq Hararghe Zone. Towns in Tulo include Debeso and Hirna.Coffee is an important cash crop...
, and on the east by the Galetti River
Galetti River
Galetti River is a river in eastern Ethiopia. A tributary of the Shebelle River, it rises in the Chercher mountains....
which separates it from Mesela
Mesela (woreda)
Mesela is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Mesela is bordered on the southwest by the Galetti River which separates it from Chiro, on the northwest by Tulo, and on the east by the Misraq Hararghe Zone...
and the Misraq Hararghe Zone
Misraq Hararghe Zone
Misraq Hararghe is one of the 17 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Misraq Hararge takes its name from the former province of Hararghe. Misraq Hararge is bordered on the southwest by the Shebelle River which separates it from Bale, on the west by Mirab Hararghe, on the north by Dire Dawa and...
. Towns in Chiro include Asebe Teferi
Asebe Teferi
Asebe Teferi is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Amhar Mountains, it has a latitude and longitude of and an altitude of 1826 meters above sea level...
and Kuni.
The highest peak in Chiro is Mount Arba Gugu (3574 meters). Khat
Khat
Khat, qat, gat or Waquish Spoken from true Yemeni, is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula....
is an important cash crop of this woreda, but because it is a very perishable commodity and must be cultivated not too far from major markets or good roads, it is grown along the main road. Coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
is another important cash crop, with over 5,000 hectares is planted with this crop.
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 412,938, of whom 201,965 are men and 210,973 are women; 37,296 or 9.03% of its population are urban dwellers, which is about the same as the Zone average of 9.6%. With an estimated area of 1,786.88 square kilometers, Chiro has an estimated population density of 231.1 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 101.8.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 294,295, of whom 150,917 were men and 143,378 women; 20,842 or 7.08% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Chiro were 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...
(86.25%), 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...
(12.69%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.06% of the population. 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...
was spoken as a first language by 85.23%, and 14.3% spoke 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 0.47% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Moslem
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...
, with 82.01% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 17.37% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.