Magdala (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Magdala is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Debub Wollo Zone
, Magdala is bordered on the southwest by the Walo Shabatala River which separates it from Sayint
, on the north by the Bashilo River
which separates it from the Semien Wollo Zone
, and on the east by Tenta
. The major town in Magdala is Masha.
Elevations in this woreda range from 700 meters above sea level where the Bashilo leaves it to 3600 meters at its southeastern point on the upper slopes of Mount Amba Ferit, near the source of the Walo Shabatala.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 142,654, an increase of 34.03% over the 1994 census, of whom 69,626 are men and 73,028 women; 5,115 or 3.59% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,491.38 square kilometers, Magdala has a population density of 95.65, which is less than the Zone average of 147.58 persons per square kilometer. A total of 35,041 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.07 persons to a household, and 33,622 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 106,435 in 25,813 households, of whom 52,567 were men and 53,868 were women; 2,037 or 1.91% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Magdala was the Amhara
(99.96%). Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.94%. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
, with 71.83% of the population reported as practicing that belief, while 28.04% 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 Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
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 Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo is one of 10 Zones in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. It acquired its name from the former province of Wollo.Debub Wollo is bordered on the south by Semien Shewa and the Oromia Region, on the west by Mirab Gojjam, on the northwest by Debub Gondar, on the north by Semien Wollo and on the...
, Magdala is bordered on the southwest by the Walo Shabatala River which separates it from Sayint
Sayint
Sayint is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the historic district of Sayint...
, on the north by the Bashilo River
Bashilo River
The Bashilo River is located in Ethiopia. Known for its canyon, which one source describes as almost as extensive as the canyon of its parent the Abay, also known as the Blue Nile, the river originates just west of Kutaber in the Amhara Region, flowing first to the northwest to where the Tergiya...
which separates it from the Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. Semien Wollo acquired its name from the former province of Wollo. Semien Wollo is bordered on the south by Debub Wollo, on the west by Debub Gondar, on the north by Wag Hemra, and on the northeast and east by the Afar Region; part of its...
, and on the east by Tenta
Tenta (woreda)
Tenta is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Debub Wollo Zone, Tenta is bordered on the south by Legambo, on the southwest by Sayint, on the west by Magdala, on the north by the Bashilo River which separates it from Semien Wollo Zone, on the northeast by Amba Sel,...
. The major town in Magdala is Masha.
Elevations in this woreda range from 700 meters above sea level where the Bashilo leaves it to 3600 meters at its southeastern point on the upper slopes of Mount Amba Ferit, near the source of the Walo Shabatala.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national census conducted 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...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 142,654, an increase of 34.03% over the 1994 census, of whom 69,626 are men and 73,028 women; 5,115 or 3.59% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 1,491.38 square kilometers, Magdala has a population density of 95.65, which is less than the Zone average of 147.58 persons per square kilometer. A total of 35,041 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.07 persons to a household, and 33,622 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 106,435 in 25,813 households, of whom 52,567 were men and 53,868 were women; 2,037 or 1.91% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Magdala was 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...
(99.96%). 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...
was spoken as a first language by 99.94%. The majority of the inhabitants 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...
, with 71.83% of the population reported as practicing that belief, while 28.04% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.