Walmara
Encyclopedia
Walmara is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Mirab Shewa Zone
, it is bordered on the south by the Debub Mirab (Southwest) Shewa Zone, on the west by Ejerie
, on the north by Adda Berga
, on the northeast by the Semien Shewa Zone
, and on the east by the city of Addis Ababa
. Towns in Walmara include Burayu, Holeta Genet
and Menagesha Kolobo.
The highest point in this woreda is Mount Wechacha (3191 meters), located in the southern part of the woreda. The Menagesha National Forest covers the southern and western slopes of this mountain; it is 2500 hectares in size. Other notable peaks include Mount Menagesha (between 2800 and 2900 meters).
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 161,117, of whom 81,470 are men and 79,647 are women; 52,252 or 32.43% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 736.88 square kilometers, Walmara has an estimated population density of 218.6 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 152.8.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 108,457, of whom 53,412 were men and 55,045 women; 29,225 or 26.95% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Walmara were the Oromo
(74.29%), the Amhara
(15.88%), the Sebat Bet Gurage
(6.33%), and the Tigrayan
(1.33%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.17% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 70.1%, 24.22% spoke Amharic
, 3.56% spoke Sebat Bet Gurage
, and 1.06% spoke Tigrinya
; the remaining 1.06% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 93.72% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 3.8% of the population said they were Muslim
, and 1.83% were Protestant
.
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 Shewa Zone
Mirab Shewa Zone
Mirab Shewa is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. This zone takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa...
, it is bordered on the south by the Debub Mirab (Southwest) Shewa Zone, on the west by Ejerie
Ejerie
Ejerie is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Shewa Zone, it is bordered on the south by the Debub Mirab Shewa Zone, on the west by Dendi, on the northwest by Jeldu, on the north by Meta Robi, on the northeast by Adda Berga, and on the east by Walmara...
, on the north by Adda Berga
Adda Berga
Adda Berga is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Shewa Zone, Adda Berga is bordered on the south by Walmara, on the southwest by Ejerie, on the west by Meta Robi, and on the north and east by the Muger River which separates it from the Semien Shewa Zone...
, on the northeast by the Semien Shewa Zone
Semien Shewa Zone (Oromia)
Semien Shewa is one of the 12 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Semien Shewa takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa. Semien Shewa is bordered on the south by Addis Ababa, on the southwest by Mirab Shewa, on the north by the Amhara Region, and on the southeast by Misraq...
, and on the east by the city of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
. Towns in Walmara include Burayu, Holeta Genet
Holeta Genet
Holeta Genet is a town in central Ethiopia. Located in the Mirab Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a latitude and longitude of and an altitude of 2391 meters above sea level....
and Menagesha Kolobo.
The highest point in this woreda is Mount Wechacha (3191 meters), located in the southern part of the woreda. The Menagesha National Forest covers the southern and western slopes of this mountain; it is 2500 hectares in size. Other notable peaks include Mount Menagesha (between 2800 and 2900 meters).
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 161,117, of whom 81,470 are men and 79,647 are women; 52,252 or 32.43% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 736.88 square kilometers, Walmara has an estimated population density of 218.6 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 152.8.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 108,457, of whom 53,412 were men and 55,045 women; 29,225 or 26.95% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Walmara 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...
(74.29%), 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...
(15.88%), the Sebat Bet Gurage
Gurage
Gurage is an ethnic group in Ethiopia. According to the 2007 national census, its population is 1,867,377 people , of whom 792,659 are urban dwellers. This is 2.53% of the total population of Ethiopia, or 7.52% of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region...
(6.33%), and the Tigrayan
Tigray-Tigrinya people
Tigray-Tigrinya are an ethnic group who live in the southern, central and northern parts of Eritrea and the northern highlands of Ethiopia's Tigray province. They also live in Ethiopia's former provinces of Begemder and Wollo, which are today mostly part of Amhara Region, though a few regions...
(1.33%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.17% 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 70.1%, 24.22% 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...
, 3.56% spoke Sebat Bet Gurage
Sebat Bet Gurage language
Sebat Bet is a Gurage language, spoken in several dialects found in the western Gurage Zone:*Chaha is spoken in Cheha woreda, and is the best studied of these dialects;*Ezha is spoken in Ezhana Wolene woreda,...
, and 1.06% spoke Tigrinya
Tigrinya language
Tigrinya , also spelled Tigrigna, Tigrnia, Tigrina, Tigriña, less commonly Tigrinian, Tigrinyan, is a Semitic language spoken by the Tigrinya people in central Eritrea , where it is one of the two main languages of Eritrea, and in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia , where it...
; the remaining 1.06% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 93.72% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 3.8% of the population 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...
, and 1.83% were Protestant
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...
.