Silte (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Silte is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. It is named after a subgroup of the Silt'e people
, whose homeland includes this woreda. Formerly part of the Gurage Zone
, after a referendum held between 18 and 26 April 2001, this woreda became part of the Silte Zone. This woreda is bordered on the southeast by Lanfro
woreda, on the southwest by Dalocha
, on the northwest by Gumer
, and on the northeast by Meskanena Mareko
the last two woredas being part of Gurage Zone. The administrative center of this woreda is Kibet; other towns in Silte include Alkaso, and Worabe
.
Silte has 47 kilometers of all-weather roads and 20 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 133 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. Local landmarks include the Asano Stele, located 8 kilometers from Kibet. This stele has a flat shape with a height of about 1.5 meters and a width of 80 centimeters. Both sides of the Asano Stele are carved, but its head has been broken off. According to village elders, the place where this monument stands was formerly used as a burial ground.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 167,832, of whom 85,902 are men and 81,930 women; 8,589 or 5.12% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 535 square kilometers, Silte has an estimated population density of 313.7 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 117,784 of whom 57,510 were men and 60,274 women; 4,741 or 4.03% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Silte were the Silt'e (98.22%), and the Amhara
(0.91%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.87% of the population. Silt'e
is spoken as a first language by 98.22%, and 0.91% speak Amharic
; the remaining 0.87% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Muslim
, with 96.7% of the population reporting reporting that faith, while 3.12% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. Concerning education
, 16.61% of the population were considered literate, which is less than the Zone average of 20.62%; 3.54% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school, 0.56% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.99% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, 66.93% of the urban houses and 7.69% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 35.96% of the urban and 4.37% of all houses 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...
. It is named after a subgroup of the Silt'e people
Silt'e people
The Silt'e people are an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia. They inhabit today's Silt'e Zone which is part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. A considerable number of Silt'e live in Addis Ababa, Adama and other cities and smaller urban centres of southern Ethiopia where...
, whose homeland includes this woreda. Formerly part of the Gurage Zone
Gurage Zone
Gurage is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named for the Gurage people, whose homeland lies in this zone. Gurage is bordered on the south by Hadiya on the west north and east by the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by Silte. Its highest...
, after a referendum held between 18 and 26 April 2001, this woreda became part of the Silte Zone. This woreda is bordered on the southeast by Lanfro
Lanfro
Lanfro is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Until it was included into the Silte Zone, Lanfro formed part of the Gurage Zone. Lanfro is bordered on the south by the Kembata Alaba and Tembaro Zone, on the west by Dalocha, on the north by...
woreda, on the southwest by Dalocha
Dalocha (woreda)
Dalocha is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Dalocha is bordered on the south by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the west by the Hadiya Zone, on the north by Silte, and on the east by Lanfro...
, on the northwest by Gumer
Gumer
Gumer is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after one of the sub-groups of the Sebat Bet Gurage, the Gumer...
, and on the northeast by Meskanena Mareko
Meskanena Mareko
Meskanena Mareko is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gurage Zone, Meskanena Mareko is bordered on the south by Silte, on the southwest by Gumer, on the west by Ezhana Wolene, on the northwest by Kokir Gedebano Gutazer, on the...
the last two woredas being part of Gurage Zone. The administrative center of this woreda is Kibet; other towns in Silte include Alkaso, and Worabe
Worabe
Worabe is a town in south-central Ethiopia. Official sources locate this town in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region , although it is reported that at a referendum in 2000 the Silt'e people unanimously voted to form their own Zone, Silt'e, which includes Worabe...
.
Silte has 47 kilometers of all-weather roads and 20 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 133 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. Local landmarks include the Asano Stele, located 8 kilometers from Kibet. This stele has a flat shape with a height of about 1.5 meters and a width of 80 centimeters. Both sides of the Asano Stele are carved, but its head has been broken off. According to village elders, the place where this monument stands was formerly used as a burial ground.
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 167,832, of whom 85,902 are men and 81,930 women; 8,589 or 5.12% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 6.3%. With an estimated area of 535 square kilometers, Silte has an estimated population density of 313.7 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 278.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 117,784 of whom 57,510 were men and 60,274 women; 4,741 or 4.03% of its population were urban dwellers. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Silte were the Silt'e (98.22%), 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...
(0.91%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.87% of the population. Silt'e
Silt'e language
Silt'e is a Semitic language spoken in central Ethiopia, mainly within the Silte Zone, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region and by speakers of the language , who have settled in Ethiopian cities, especially Addis Ababa.-Speakers and dialects:Dialects of the language include:...
is spoken as a first language by 98.22%, and 0.91% speak 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 0.87% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants said they 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 96.7% of the population reporting reporting that faith, while 3.12% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. 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...
, 16.61% of the population were considered literate, which is less than the Zone average of 20.62%; 3.54% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school, 0.56% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.99% 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...
, 66.93% of the urban houses and 7.69% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 35.96% of the urban and 4.37% of all houses had toilet facilities.