Grade 9 Geography - Population and Demographic Characteristics of Ethiopia PDF

UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA UNIT FOUR 4. POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA...

UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA UNIT FOUR 4. POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA Introduction In the previous unit, you have learned highlands and lowlands of Ethiopia about the natural resource base of and impacts of population structure on Ethiopia such as drainage systems, sustainable development in Ethiopia. soils, natural vegetation, wildlife and Throughout human history, people have mineral resources of Ethiopia. This unit changed and adapted to the earth. They deals with population and demographic have done so in order to survive. Today characteristics of Ethiopia. The major there are 7.9 billion people living on the topics to be covered include the earth. The study of human population trendsof population growth in Ethiopia, has long been of interest to geographers. population composition, population The pressure of population growth in distribution, urban and rural settlement today’s world adds great urgency to the patterns, health and disease in the study of population for everyone. 87  Grade 9 | Geography Unit Outcomes After completing this unit, you will be able to: 🔆 define the concept of human population; 🔆 recognize the pattern of population growth in Ethiopia; 🔆 examine population structure and trends in Ethiopia; 🔆 explain the population characteristics of Ethiopia; 🔆 demonstrate the population distribution and settlement patterns of Ethiopia; 🔆 identify factors influencing spatial distribution of health and diseases in lowland and highland of Ethiopia; 🔆 analyze the influence of population pressure on resources in Ethiopia; and 🔆 describe the diversity of language and religion in Ethiopia; Main Contents 4.1 CONCEPT OF HUMAN POPULATION 4.2 THE TRENDS OF POPULATION GROWTH IN ETHIOPIA 4.3 POPULATION COMPOSITION 4.4 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION 4.5 URBAN AND RURAL SETTLEMENT PATTERNS 4.6 HEALTH AND DISEASE IN THE HIGHLANDS AND LOWLANDS OF ETHIOPIA 4.7 IMPACTS OF POPULATION GROWTH ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA 4.8 LANGUAGE AND RELIGION DIVERSITY IN ETHIOPIA 🌐 Unit Summary 🌐 Review Exercise 88 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA 4.1 CONCEPT OF HUMAN POPULATION At the end of this section, you will be able to: 🔆 define the concept of human population; and 🔆 discuss facts about human population. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Human population մ Population Geography մ Population 4.1.1 Concepts of Human Population In the previous grades, you have already learned different aspects of population among which world population trends, characteristics, distribution, growth and patterns. This section focuses on human population and the importance of studying human population The term population in population studies refers to the total number of human inhabitants of a specified area, such as a city, country, or continent, at a given time. The human population has been a matter of study for various academic disciplines such as geography, biology, sociology, medical science, history, etc. In geography as well, there is a separate branch that studies about human population: Population Geography. It is concerned mainly with the spatial analysis of the human population. It focuses on population-space relationships. It also emphasizes the spatial aspects of human population and the interaction and interdependence between the human population and the physical environment. The human population is given great emphasis and is studied by various disciplines including population geography. 89  Grade 9 | Geography The human population is studied for many reasons including the following. Þ It is very dynamic as it demonstrates significant quantitative and qualitative changes over time and space. Such changes have a tremendous impact on the socio-economic development of societies. Þ Change in the size, composition, structure and location of human population can have policy implications. Þ Knowing about the characteristics of the human population is important in order to adjust situations to existing realities. Population studies yield knowledge that is important for planning, particularly by governments, in fields such as health, education, housing, social security, employment, and environment preservation. Such studies also provide the information needed to formulate government population policies, which seek to modify demographic trends in order to achieve economic and social objectives The study of human population is also necessary for development and socio-economic activities. For example, population is the major source of the labour force for the productive and non-productive economic sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, teaching, health services, etc. Moreover, human population is the main productive force and creator of material wealth. This makes the study of population extremely important for the overall socio-economic development of a country. Activity 4.1 In a small groups, discuss the following questions. 1. Why is studying human population important? 2. For what purposes, do you think, governments use population information/data? 3. What is the advantage of studying population? 90 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA 4.2 TRENDS OF POPULATION GROWTH IN ETHIOPIA At the end of this section, you will be able to: 🔆 explain the trends of population growth in Ethiopia; and 🔆 compare population size of Ethiopia on regional bases. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Growth Rate մ Population size 4.2.1 Trends of Population Growth in Ethiopia Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. In 2020, its population was estimated to be 114.9 million (UN, 2021), which ranks 12th in the world, and the current growth rate is about 2.6 percent. According to the 2007 Census, the population of Ethiopia was 73.8 million. The country’s population is among the fastest growing population in the world. It was estimated that, in 1900, Ethiopia had only 11.8 million persons. This number increased to about 13 million in 1920 and 23.5 million in 1960, as it is shown in (Table 4.1). The table shows the population of the country in 1960 was doubled in 1990. These values show that, during those decades, it took 60 years for the population to double its size. In contrast, since 1960, the time required for the population to double has been on the decline. This is because of a rapid rate of population growth. For instance, the population doubled in size between 1960 and 1990, indicating a doubling time of only 30 years. 91  Grade 9 | Geography Table 4.1: Population Size and Growth of Ethiopia (1900-2020) Year Population Annual Growth Population Doubling (Million) Rate (%) Time (year) 1900 11.8 0.2 346 1910 12.1 0.5 139 1920 12.9 1.0 69 1930 14.4 1.2 58 1940 16.2 1.5 46 1950 19.2 2.0 38 1960 23.5 2.2 32 1970 29.5 2.3 30 1980 37.7 2.8 25 1984 42.6 3.1 22 1990 51.2 3.0 24 1994 53.5 2.9 24 2000 63.4 2.8 25 2007 73.8 2.0 35 2010* 79.0. 2.6 27 2020* 114.9 2.6 27 Source: CSA,2009 and *UN, 2021 A historical profile of the growth rates of the Ethiopian population since 1900 shows that the population increased by less than 1.0 percent until about 1920. After 1920, however, the rate of growth slightly increased; and then, by 1950, it went up to 2.0 percent. The slow rate of population growth before 1920 reflected the country’s high mortality rate. With worldwide efforts to control malaria and other diseases in the 1950s and later, the growth rate rose from year to year and reached 2.8 percent in 1980. Between 1980 and 1990, the growth rate of Ethiopian population was around 3.0 percent. Between 2010 and 2020, the growth rate of Ethiopia was around 2.6 percent. 92 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA Focus Although there has been a slight decline in the population growth rate between the three censuses, Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing populations in the world. Over the two decades between the three censuses, for instance, the population of Ethiopia increased from 42.6 million in 1984 to 53.5 million in 1994 and to 73.8 in 2007. In 2020 the Ethiopian population was estimated to be 114.9 million (UN, 2021). Activity 4.2 In a small group, discuss the following question. Why is the Ethiopian population growing so fast? 4.3 POPULATION COMPOSITION At the end of this section, you will be able to: 🔆 explain how the population structure of Ethiopia changed overtime; and 🔆 describe the composition of Ethiopian population. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Age structure մ Population pyramid մ Age dependency ratio մ Sex structure 👩 մ Sex ratio What is population composition? What do you know about age and sex structure? What is the importance of studying the age structure of a population? 93  Grade 9 | Geography The population of a country can be divided in accordance to age, sex, occupation, language, religion and other attribute. Population composition refers to those aspects of population that can be measured in terms of age, sex, marital status, family size, economic activities, nationality, language and religion. A. Age Structure Age structure is the classification of a given population into different age groups of various features. This structure becomes clear after we group all of the people in that population by age. In other words, age structure is the pattern that results from the distribution of members of a population into different age categories. The distribution of population by age is among the most fundamental demographic characteristics of human population and that of demographic statistics. It plays an important role in the development of any society. The economic and cultural life of society critically depends upon the age structure of the population. Moreover, the planning process of any country makes use of this data extensively for the development of the economy, culture and for its regions. Two important statistical tools for understanding age structure are: Þ age groups, and Þ population pyramids Age Groups: Although we can use different sets of numbers to define age groups, the most widely used age groups are the five-year age groups 0-4, 5-9, 10-14,..., 60- 64, 65+ and broad age groups 0-14, 15-64, 65+. In the broad age groups, age groups 0-14, 15-64 and 65+ are known, respectively, as young age (the young dependent population), working age (the economically active population) and old age (the elderly dependent population). 👩 Population Pyramid What is population pyramid? A Population pyramid is a very useful aid in examining the age and sex structure of a population. It is a graphic representation of the distribution of the population by age and sex. In the age pyramid, the vertical axis is divided in years (usually five year age group interval) from zero upwards and the horizontal axis shows the percentages 94 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA of males and females within these groups. Percentages are calculated to both sexes separately or of the total population. In countries where birth rates are high and death rates are also high, the population pyramid has the form of a triangle. This pattern is typical of the population of developing countries like Ethiopia, in which many children are born, but few reach old age. In contrast, in the developed countries, with their lower birth rates and fewer people dying young, the population pyramid is more rectangular, narrowing only nears its top. In these countries, both birth and death rates decline with a result showing the number of people in each group at an equivalent state. Figure 4.1: Population Pyramid of Ethiopia, 2020 Activity 4.3 Look at Figure 4.1 and answer the following questions 1. What does the vertical axis on population pyramid represent? 2. What does a narrow base on a population pyramid indicate? 95  Grade 9 | Geography In general, population pyramids of developing countries like Ethiopia have very broad bases, showing the dominance of the young-age population. These pyramids become increasingly narrower towards the top, advancing through the age groups, showing that the percentage of the population becomes less and less in the upper age groups (65-69, 70-74, etc.). The high percentage for the young age group is the result of high birth rate and natural increase, while the small percentage of the old age group is the reflection of high mortality rate, which results in low life expectancy. Focus Age structure is one of the most important demographic characteristics of a population. Age information is often used to understand the sizes of school-age, labour-force, elderly, and other populations. A population pyramid is usually employed to show the age distribution of a given population by sex. The population pyramid of Ethiopia has a broad base that narrows towards the top as age increases. This shape is typical of a population with ahigh fertility rate 👩 Age Dependency Ratio (ADR) What do you think age dependency is? Do you think that it is a problem in Ethiopia? Age Dependency Ratio is the relationship between the working or economically active population and the non-working population. It is generally accepted that people in the young and old ages are dependent on the working-age population. The Age Dependency Ratio (ADR) is used to show the magnitude of this dependency in a given population. This means that the dependency burden, represented by the non- working population in the young and old age groups, on the working-age population can be shown by the age dependency ratio. The formula for calculating the age dependency ratio (ADR) is: ADR = e o * 100 (% of population 0 - 14) + (%of population aged 65 +) % of population aged 15 - 64 96 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA Example Suppose country ‘’Z’’ has a total population of 65 million of which 40% of the total population 26 million) children age (0-14) and productive age group (15-64) 50% of the total population (32.5 million) and old age group (65 and above) 10% (6.5 million). ADR = c 26, 000, 000 + 6, 500, 000 m * 100 = 100/100 32, 500, 000 This shows that there are 100 dependents on 100 working population. In other words, it means that each person of working age has, an average, to support one of the dependent. Ethiopia’s age dependency ratio in 2020 was 76.8/100, this shows that there are 76.8 dependents on 100 working population. A high dependency ratio in Ethiopia indicates that the economically active population and the overall economy face a greater burden to support and provide the social services needed by children and by elderly persons who are often economically dependent. B. Sex Structure Sex is one of the basic demographic characteristics of a population. Sex structure is very important for demographic analysis because it provides useful information about reproductive potential, human resources, and so on.Sex structure refers to the ratio of the male population to the female population at different age groups. It is usually expressed as number of males per 100 females in a population. A ratio greater than 100 shows a greater number – called an excess – of males than females. Sex ratios can affect marriage prospects, labour force participation, and other social and economic variables. The formula for calculating a sex ratio is: Number of males Sex Ratio = Number of Females * 100 According to the 1984 census result, the sex ratio for the population of Ethiopia was 99.4. This means that there were about 99 males for every 100 females. The 1994 census result showed that it was 101.3 and in 2007 sex ratio was 101.9. In 2020, male to female ratio in Ethiopia was estimated to be 100.12 males per 100 females. 97  Grade 9 | Geography Activity 4.4 Answer the Following Questions 1. What is sex ratio? 2. What is the significance of studying the sex composition of population? 3. By referring to the table below answer the questions that follow: Country Total Female Young Age Old Age Population Population Population (%) Population (%) X 800,000 500,000 42 8 Y 1,250,000 790,000 20 15 Z 930,000 405,000 50 6 a) Calculate sex ratio for each country b) Calculate ADR for each country c) Which country shows the maximum dependency ratio? 4.4 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION At the end of this section, you will be able to: 🔆 discuss the spatial distribution of population in Ethiopia; and 🔆 identify factors affecting population distribution in Ethiopia. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Dense population մ Population distribution մ Population density մ Sparse population 👩 👩 Do you know what population distribution means? How is it characterized in the context of Ethiopia? Population distribution refers to the way how population spreads out over a given area, i.e., of any size from a small area to the earth as a whole. The distribution 98 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA of population is indicated by population density. Population density is the average number of people per square kilometre in a given area. In Ethiopia, the population is unevenly distributed for various physical and human related reasons. In the nation, people live mostly in areas with agreeable life conditions such as moderate climate, adequate supply of water, good vegetation cover, fertile soil, and absence of disease causing insects. For such preferences, most people are found concentrated in the highlands and plateaus of the country. These places have the country’s most favourable natural conditions for settlement and crop cultivation. Therefore, those areas have attracted denser population than the lowlands. The highlands, where there are no vector borne diseases, have generally been the areas of high population concentration. On the other hand, the lowlands are of low population concentration. Thus, 77.5 percent of the population of Ethiopia lives in the highlands at altitudes above 1800 meters, and only 22.5 percent lives at altitudes below 1800 meters. Figure 4.2: Population Distribution Map of Ethiopia 99  Grade 9 | Geography Measures of Population Distribution: Population distribution is a measurable concept. It is measured by using population density. Population density refers to the number of people per unit area. There are various density measures. Among them, the crude density is the most widely used method to measure population distribution. It is found by dividing the total population to the total area. It is man land ratio. In 1990 crude density for Ethiopia was 40.74 people/km2 and this has increased to 52 people /km2 in 1998; and in 2020; 103.9 people/ /km2. The distribution of Ethiopia’s population generally is related to altitude, climate, and soil type. Figure 4.2 indicates that uneven population distribution in Ethiopia. The highest population concentration is found in the highlands, which are endowed with moderate temperature, rich soil and adequate rainfall. The lowlands are very sparsely populated mainly this happens because of high temperatures and low rainfall, There is a considerable variation in population density among the administrative regions of the country. Excluding the urban based administrative regions (Harari, Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa) Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) region is the administrative area with the largest population density (173 people/ km2) followed by Amhara region Gambella (13 people/km2), Somali, Afar; and Benishangul-Gumuz are regions with low densities of population. Crude population density conceals /much of the variations within regions. Table 4.2: Population Density of Ethiopia by Administrative Regions Region Population Area(km2 ) Density(p/km2 ) Tigray 5,247,005 84,722 61.9 61.9 Afar 1,723,000 72,053 23.9 Amhara 20,401,000 154,709 131.9 Oromia 33,692,000 284,538 118.4 Somali 5,453,000 279,252 19.5 Benishangul Gumz 1,005,000 50,699 19.8 SNNPR 18,276,000 105,476 173.3 Gambella 409,000 29,783 13.7 Harari 232,000 334 716 Addis Ababa 3,273,000 527 6,210 Dire Dawa City Administration 440,000 1,559 282 Total 90,078,000 1,063,652 84.7 Source: CSA, Statistical Abstract, 2015. 100 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA NOTE Recently two administrative regions were established from Southern Nation Nationalities and Peoples region namely; Sidama Regional State and Southwest Ethiopia People Regional State. When population densities are considered in terms of zones, the variation of population density in Ethiopia is generally greater than the differences among the regions. Some of the zones with very high densities are Gedeo, Kambata, Guraghe, Wolayta and Hadiya; where densities exceed 300 persons per km2. On the other hand, peripheral zones such as Kamashi, and Metekel have population densities of less than 20 persons/ km2. Likewise, if population densities of lower administrative units are considered, the variations could still be greater.For instance, Wanago, Damot Gale, Aleta Wendo, Yirga Chefe, Dara, Kacha Bira, Angacha, Sodo Zuria, Shebedino and Kedida Gamela have crude densities of exceeding 500 people/km2 ; while woredas with extremely low densities (less than 10 people/km2) include Guba Woreda (Benishangul Gumuz Region), Dolo Woreda (Somali Region), Gog Woreda (Gambela Region). Therefore, it could be generalized that “the lower the administrative unit the greater the variations in population density” Activity 4.5 Answer the following questions referring to Table 4.5. 1. Which region is the most densely populated in Ethiopia? 2. Describe the status of your region with respect to the spatial distribution of population 101  Grade 9 | Geography 👩 Factors Affecting Population Distribution in Ethiopia You can easily see from the preceding lesson that the distribution of population in Ethiopia is extremely uneven. What factors do you think are responsible for such spatial variation in the distribution of people over land? This extreme unevenness is the result of a number of factors operating in combination. These factors can be grouped into two: physical and human. A. Physical Factors The most significant physical factors affecting the distribution of population in Ethiopia are the following. Þ Climate (mainly rainfall and temperature) Þ Soil fertility Þ Natural water supply Þ Relief (slope and altitude) Þ Vegetation cover In Ethiopia, most of the physical factors are influenced by altitude. Therefore, altitude is the most crucial physical factor influencing patterns of population distribution and settlement in the country. Studies in climatology make it clear that rainfall increases while temperature decreases with an increase in altitude. Incidentally, this means that rainfall is very low and temperature is high in lowland areas, while rainfall is high and temperature is moderately low in the highlands. Since soil formation and vegetation growth are closely associated with adequate rainfall and moderate temperature, highlands tend to have better soils and vegetation cover. Lowlands in Ethiopia are characterized by scarcity of rainfall, high temperature, and poor vegetation and soil conditions. In addition to these negative factors, the prevalence of tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever contributes to the sparse population distribution in such areas. For reasons of tropical diseases, most of the valleys of the major rivers of Ethiopia are also characterized by sparse population concentration. The main exception to this is the Awash River Valley, where irrigation agriculture is practiced. This overall pattern differs from what can be seen in other parts of the world, where valleys of major rivers are zones of large concentrations of people. However, with improvements in agricultural and medical technology, Ethiopia’s lower major river valleys might, in 102 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA the future, attract more people from the densely populated highland areas Table.4.3: The Relationship Between Altitude and Population in Ethiopia Altitude (Meters) Area (%) Population (%) Above 2600 5.8 10.4 1800-2600 31.8 67.1 1400-1800 28.1 11.5 1000-1400 13.4 8.2 Below 1000 21.5 2.8 Total 100 100 Source: Aynalem Adugna, 1987. From the Table 4.3, above we can understand that 77.5 percent of the population of Ethiopia lives in areas with altitudes above 1800 meters, and these areas constitute only 37.6 percent of the total area of the country. The area above 1,400, which makes up 65.7 percent of the total area of Ethiopia, supports 89.0 percent of the population of the country. However, caution could be made, as there are many severely dissected areas within the highlands with a few or no people. Lowlands are characterized by scarcity of rainfall, high temperature, and poor vegetation and soil conditions. In addition, the lowlands tend to be infested with tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever that contribute to the sparse population distribution. Activity 4.6 In small groups, discuss the following questions. 1. What are the major factors that attract large populations to the highland areas of Ethiopia for settlement? 2. Why are the lowland areas of Ethiopia sparsely populated? 3. In most parts of the world, valleys of major rivers are zones of large concentrations of population. In contrast, the valleys of major rivers of Ethiopia are areas of sparse population distribution. Why is this so? 103  Grade 9 | Geography 👩 B. Human Factors Can you mention the major human factors that have influenced population distribution in Ethiopia? The major human factors which have influenced population distribution in Ethiopia are the following. Þ Types of economic activity Þ Historical patterns of population movement Types of Economic Activities The types of economic activity performed in an area strongly influence the carrying capacity of that land. Consequently, the carrying capacity influences the number of people that can inhabit a given area. Being a country of diverse environmental and cultural conditions, Ethiopia offers ample evidence of these relationships. The arid and semi-arid lowland areas of Ethiopia are areas that are more suitable for pastoralist activities than for crop farming. By its nature, pastoralism is an economic activity that requires large areas of grazing lands. In most pastoralist areas of Ethiopia, the land requirement for grazing is as large as 20 hectares or more per head of cattle. The arid and semi-arid lowlands of Ethiopia that are inhabited by pastoralists and semi-pastoralists are sparsely settled. Hence, with pastoral herding, population densities are extremely low. As it has been said earlier, compared to pastoralist areas, crop-farming areas have greater carrying capacity and higher densities of population. This is typically the case in the highland areas of Ethiopia where natural conditions are suitable for crop cultivation. In the crop-farming highland areas, the man-land ratio is significantly higher than the one in the pastoralist lowlands. However, the crop-farming areas of Ethiopia do not have uniform carrying capacities or population densities. Population density is significantly influenced by the types of crops cultivated. For instance, in the northern and north central highland areas of Ethiopia, the most cultivated crops are cereals. Cereals have relatively low yields per unit area. Therefore, these areas tend to have relatively lower carrying capacities and population density. IIn contrast, the southern, enset and coffee-growing regions of the country have greater yields per unit area. This is an important reason for the very high population densities in some zones and weredas of the southern region that you read about earlier. 104 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA The development of commercial farms in some parts of Ethiopia, such as Awash valley, is another significant factor in population movements and their effects on population distribution. Some decades ago, there were very few people in the Awash valley. However, because of the development of many small and a few large commercial farms, several thousands of settled and migratory people are found there. In Ethiopia, urban and industrial growth/expansion are other human factors that bring about population redistribution over time, and they are responsible for considerable spatial variation of population density at present. Historical Patterns of Population Movement The historical pattern of population movement in Ethiopia is also another human factor affecting population distribution in Ethiopia. Activity 4.7 In small groups, discuss the following questions. 1. Why do Ethiopia’s crop farming areas have high carrying capacities and high population densities, while its areas of pastoralists have low carrying capacities and low population densities? 105  Grade 9 | Geography 4.5 URBAN AND RURAL SETTLEMENT PATTERNS At the end of this section, you will be able to: 🔆 describe settlement patterns of Ethiopian population; and 🔆 differentiate urban and rural settlements patterns of Ethiopia. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Dispersed settlement մ Settlement մ Nucleated settlement մ Urban settlement մ Rural settlement մ Villagization 👩 👩 Define the term settlement. What is the difference between a rural settlement and an urban settlement? The term settlement refers to the characteristic groupings of population into occupancy units, together with the facilities in the form of houses and streets, which serve the inhabitants. It is also defined as a place in which people live, carrying out a variety of activities, to make their livings such as trade, agriculture and manufacturing. The origin of settlements can be traced back to the caves where people gathered for protection against the natural forces or defence against rival tribes. There are varieties of settlements, and they are changing rapidly over time. These include hamlets, villages, towns, cities, metropolises, megalopolises, etc. In all cases, however, ‘settlement’ designates an organized colony of human beings, together with their residences, buildings (stores, factories, warehouses, etc.) paths and streets. Different settlement types develop mainly in response to some physical and human factors. Studies of settlements are concerned with the facilities humans construct in the process of living in an area and using its resources. Naturally, settlements are situated as strategically as possible with respect to natural features, such as water, fuel, food, and protection, as well to access to transportation and communications. 106 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA Ethiopian settlements are broadly categorized as rural and urban. The primary bases for this dichotomy are the dominant economic activities and the degree of population density. Urban settlements are usually branded by non-agricultural economic activities, while rural settlements are typically agricultural. Leaving social, cultural and physiological differences aside, rural and urban settlements in Ethiopia can very well be distinguished by population densities, which are generally very high in urban settlements compared to the relatively lower densities of population in rural settlement areas. Activity 4.8 In small groups, discuss the following questions. 1. What do you know about the concept of settlement? 2. Do you know why settlement patterns differ from place to place in Ethiopia? 4.5.1 Rural Settlements 👩 👩 What do you think are the differences between rural and urban settlements? What kinds of settlements exist in the rural areas of Ethiopia? Rural settlement is the name given to all villages and dispersed (scattered) settlements in areas far from urban centres. Such settlements are widely dispersed and are dominated by isolated homesteads. The inhabitants of rural settlements are mainly engaged in agriculture.Settlements in the rural areas of Ethiopia can be broadly grouped into two: permanent and temporary settlements. 👩 A. Permanent Settlements What kinds of settlements are considered permanent? In which areas of Ethiopia are these types of settlements mostly found? Highlands or lowlands? Settlements are considered permanent if their locations do not frequently change, i.e. if they remain in place for more than ten years. In this sense, most rural settlements over the highland areas of Ethiopia are permanent. The permanent rural settlements of Ethiopia are mostly associated with the crop-farming highland areas of the country. 107  Grade 9 | Geography The permanent rural settlements of Ethiopia can also be broadly divided into two: the scattered (diffused or dispersed) settlements and the grouped (nucleated) settlements. In areas of scattered settlements, homesteads are separated by relatively long distances. On the other hand, the grouped settlements are characterized by a large number of homesteads concentrated in one place In Ethiopia, the Derg Regime’s compulsory villagization program resulted in the formation of grouped settlements (villages) in many parts of the country. In most parts of the northern regions of the country, such settlements have remained in place for years with the idea that they would enhance communal ownership of land and the provision of social services. However, because the program was conducted by forcing people into villages against their will, and the services were non-existent, people began to return to their original sites, in a manner of reversal move. This movement began even before the regime was overthrown. The government of Ethiopia has recently conducted villagization programs that are based on peoples’ will to leave their original settlement sites. Besides, the resettlement program of the FDRE government has also been implemented within similar administrative regions. 👩 B. Temporary Settlements 👩 What kinds of settlements are temporary? Do you know the areas of Ethiopia in which these types of settlements are mostly found? Temporary settlements are mobile settlements inhabited by nomadic people of lowland Ethiopia. The rift valley region and lowlands of the west, east and, south are characterized by hot and dry conditions. This harsh climatic condition forces people living in these areas to seasonally move from one area to another with their herds. 4.5.2 Urban Settlements 👩 What kinds of settlements are considered urban? Do you know the features that make urban settlements different from the rural settlements in Ethiopia? Urban settlements, on the other hand, are always larger and compact or nodal. In the rural settlements the concern is chiefly with primary production, and most commonly agriculture. In urban settlements, on the contrary, the primary goods produced by the farmers, miners, or lumbermen are processed in manufacturing plants, transported, bought, sold, and financed. Urban settlements include residence in cities and towns. 108 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA In addition, urban centers have always been centers of civilization and they are the intellectual and social capitals, perform functions of a political, educational, and social character. More vitally, urban centers, in economic spheres, are major transport centers, the main assembly and break of bulk points, the great markets, and the major financial nodes. The process of the development of urban settlements is known as urbanization. In most parts of Africa, urbanization is a recent phenomenon, and it is attributed to colonialism. Urbanization in Ethiopia is not influenced by European colonialism. It is an unplanned, natural phenomenon of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Focus Not all grouped settlements are classified as urban centers. Different countries use different criteria for assigning the status of urban center of a settlement. The major criteria used in Ethiopia are: Þ the settlement has a minimum of 2000 people; Þ two-thirds of the population in the settlement are engaged in non- agricultural activities; Þ the settlement has a chartered municipality; and Þ the presence of social services and amenities. (A) (B) Figure 4.3: Rural (A) vs Urban (B) Settlement in Ethiopia The number of settlements meeting these criteria in 1984 was about 322. These settlements had 10.23 percent of the total population of the country and this is one of the least urban population sizes in the world. The number of settlements with greater than 2,000 people in 1994 had increased to 539. These have 12.8 percent of the country’s population. In 2007, the number further rose to 927.In 2020, the urban 109  Grade 9 | Geography population is about 20 percent of the country’s population. The distribution of urban centers in Ethiopia shows considerable spatial variation. This could be explained in terms of the varying concentration of industries, and services such as schools, health institutions, water supplies, electricity, and means of transport, etc. Figure 4.4: Hierarchies of Settlement 4.6 HEALTH AND DISEASE IN ETHIOPIA Ethiopia’s investment in health has resulted in improvements in the health condition of its population. For example, life expectancy has increased from 56.8 years in 2005 to 65.5 years in 2016). Three consecutive Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) (2005, 2011, and 2016) have indicated declining trends in neonatal, infant, under-five and maternal mortality. Despite great progress, Ethiopia is still facing a high burden of disease. The health extension program HEP has certainly contributed to the increased access and coverage of high-impact public health interventions in the country. Improved public health interventions such as malaria control efforts, access to safe drinking water, improved toilet facilities, and vaccination against childhood diseases are some 110 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA of the factors behind the improved health outcomes in Ethiopia. The Government of Ethiopia has been investing heavily in health system strengthening through its pro-poor policies and strategies that brought about significant gains in improving the health status of Ethiopians. Despite recognizable improvements, Ethiopia has still a heavy burden of diseases but a low rate of self-reported illness and low health facility coverage and utilization. The available literature indicates that the majority of ill health in Ethiopia is related to potentially preventable, communicable diseases and nutritional disorders. Some of the root causes of the poor health status of the population are: 1. Lack of access to clean water: Rivers and lakes remain the most important sources of water particularly for people in rural areas although such waters are largely unsafe. 2. Lack of adequate nutrition: Studies reveal that malnutrition is rampant and is among the highest in the world. About half of the children under the age of five are malnourished, stunted or wasted. Malnutrition remains high as the country has not attained food security, or due to poor knowledge about nutritional requirements and dietary habits. 3. Disease related to beliefs, behaviors and traditional practices which have a negative effect on health status include Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and early marriage. 4. Lack of health services: The health care infrastructure of the country had suffered from underfunding, and health service coverage is less than 50% of the population. The services tend to be urban biased. The combined problem of poor health and inadequate nutrition are likely to have life-long effects on children making them physically unfit, unproductive, mentally inactive and less dynamic. Since protein and energy malnutrition affects adult working population, the impact on agricultural production and productivity is likely to be high. The lowlands of Ethiopia tend to be infested with tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever that contribute to the sparse population distribution.The major killer diseases accounting for about 75% of all deaths include prenatal-maternal conditions, acute respiratory infection, malaria, nutritional deficiency for children under 5 years, diarrhea, AIDS and tuberculosis. 111  Grade 9 | Geography Despite significant improvements, Ethiopia’s health situation is still at a staggering situation. The current health workforce consists of 0.04 doctors, 0.43 nurses and 0.05 midwives per population of 1000, also represented as: one doctor for 26,943 people, one nurse for 2,311 people, and one midwife for 21,810 people. In order to overcome the lack of human resources for health and low utilization of health services, the country adopted a strategy to train the health extension workers (HEP) and midwives as well as scaling up family planning. There are variations among the regions of Ethiopia in population per hospital and hospital bed. Regions like Amhara, Somali and SNNP have population-hospital ratios of over 10,000 in each case. These three regions also have high population - hospital bed ratios. The implication is that there could be many people with no chance of seeing a doctor or having an access to a hospital bed even if they wished to. Large numbers of people should also travel several tens of kilometres to arrive at the location of the nearest hospital. Since Ethiopia’s high population growth rate will continue for of coming couple of years, and given the low rate at which the services are expanding, it could be assumed that problems in health and other areas of services will continue. Activity 4.9 In small groups discuss the following questions. 1. Describe and explain the nature of health and diseases in areas where you live. 112 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA 4.7 IMPACTS OF POPULATION GROWTH ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA At the end of this section, you will be able to: 🔆 explain the impact of population growth on Ethiopia’s socioeconomic condition; and 🔆 describe the impact of population growth on Ethiopia’s environmental condition. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Deforestation մ Food scarcity մ Drought մ Health care մ Environmental degradation մ Pollution մ Famine 👩 Can you mention some of the challenges of rapid population growth in Ethiopia? Can you mention some of the real problems that have resulted from population growth in your locality? As we have already discussed, the size of Ethiopia’s population has been growing very rapidly. The population growth rate is much higher, and it is increasing much faster than the economic growth rate and is growing beyond the carrying capacity of the country’s natural resources, such as land, water, soil, forest, etc. These negative results of rapid population growth have caused many environmental and socio- economic problems that are stated hereunder. I. Population Growth and Environmental Degradation Environmental degradation is a process through which the natural environment is compromised in some way, reducing biological diversity and the general health of the environment. In Ethiopia, massive environmental degradation has occurred during the last few 113  Grade 9 | Geography decades due to natural factors, unwise use of its natural resources, unsound ecological practices and population pressure. The major factor accelerating the environmental degradation rate is man’s abusive actions such as the removal of the natural vegetation cover through deforestation, over-grazing and inappropriate agricultural practices. The population which is growing at a very rapid rate of about 2.6 percent annually has been clearing forests and vegetation at an alarming rate in order to meet its increasing requirements of food, fiber and energy. The land degradation problem is affecting considerable parts of Ethiopia, especially the highlands, mainly due to water erosion. Soil erosion is the main feature of land resource depletion leading to desertification which leads to reduced agricultural production and shortage of food. Overall, the effects of population pressure and resulting environmental degradation have driven the country into widespread food insecurity, drought and famine for the last three decades. The main activities that are responsible for environmental degradation in Ethiopia include the removal of vegetation cover and over cultivation as a result of the rapidly increasing population requirements for crop production and fuel wood. In addition, overgrazing and high livestock density resulted in the deterioration of rangeland resources. Activity 4.10 In pairs, discuss the following question. 1. What are the indirect consequences of deforestation on socio-economic conditions? II. Population Growth and Food Production The situation of food in Ethiopia during the last successive three decades is largely dominated by a decline in domestic food production. Ethiopian agriculture is dominated by small holder peasant farming which contributes about 95% of the annual food production of the country. This sector is dependent mainly on traditional and subsistent farming methods (with a very limited use of modern technologies) and rainfall. Moreover, the rising population pressure and clearing of forests to satisfy its basic demands such as food and energy made the soil susceptible to wind and water erosion that can affect both soil fertility and food production in Ethiopia. 114 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA The sustained deterioration in the per capita food production and hunger has resulted in widespread malnutrition, particularly among children in many parts of Ethiopia, which will lead to physical and mental impairment over the next successive decades. III. Population Growth and Fuel wood Consumption Though fuel wood is the most important source of energy in Ethiopia, its supply is steadily collapsing in most parts of the country, because it is being collected faster than it can regrow. Increased forest clearance to create farmland, wood for construction purposes and forage has led to a shortage of fuel wood, deforestation, and environmental degradation. The forest cover resource of Ethiopia has been declining significantly over time. This is caused mainly by rapid population growth and the increasing population’s needs for forest resources such as wood and land. Many people in the country use wood for cooking, heating, and lightning, as well as for houses and furniture. Similarly, the increasing demand for agricultural and settlement lands is a major cause of forest destruction in the country. In Ethiopia, there is a direct correlation between population density and deforestation – the more people there are in an area, the more trees they cut down. New trees do not spring up to replace the old ones. Such deforestation has various negative consequences, both directly on the natural environment, and indirectly on the socio-economic conditions of the people. Its direct consequences include the following. Þ It accelerates soil erosion. Þ It destroys biodiversity. Þ It affects rainfall by decreasing evapotranspiration. Þ It affects the natural beauty of the affected areas Focus In Ethiopia, rapid population growth leads to deforestation mainly because of people’s increasing needs for more: Þ fuel wood Þ settlement land Þ agricultural land Þ grazing land 115  Grade 9 | Geography IV. Population Growth and Pollution Pollution refers to any undesirable change in natural conditions of water, air, and other components of the natural environment that has negative effects on the health and activities of human beings and other living creatures. 👩 Can you mention some of the causes of air and water pollution? Is pollution a problem in your locality? Water and air pollution are mainly caused by human activities in households, industries, farmlands, means of transportation, and so on. However, it can also be caused by natural events such as volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and the like. When an area is overcrowded (i.e. inhabited by a rapidly growing number of people) the natural environment is polluted by a variety of unwanted and harmful wastes that peoples’ activities produce. In Ethiopia, pollution is a major problem in overpopulated urban centers. In large cities like Addis Ababa, most people live in unsafe environments that have extremely polluted air and water. They are surrounded by the garbage and pollutants that households, industries, automobiles, and other sources discharge. Focus In Ethiopia, rapid population growth leads to environmental pollution by increasing emission of the amounts of pollutants such as: Þ Sewage, solid wastes, and pollutant gases generated by households. Þ Pollutant gases, liquids, and solid chemicals generated by expanded industries. Þ Pollutant gases generated by the increasing number of automobiles. Þ Agricultural pollutants, such as fertilizers, pesticides, animal wastes, etc. V. Population Growth and Provision of social services Effect on Education: The rapid population growth has resulted in a growing demand for education. Nowadays the total number of students has increased enormously, but there are large number of children who do not get chance to go to school. In many urban centres schools have overcrowded classrooms. 116 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA Effect on Health: Ethiopia has registered a poor health status and a high rate of population growth. The majority of the population has low access to modern health service. Relatively, the situation in urban areas is better than rural areas. Growing poverty, low level of education, inadequate access to clean water, shortage of sanitary facilities and poor accesses to health facilities have contributed to the poor health situation in Ethiopia. Activity 4.11 In small groups, discuss the following questions 1. Do all school –age children in your locality go to school? If no, why? 2. Do people in your locality have easy access to hospitals and health centres? 3. Do farmers in your locality have enough land for farming? If no, what are the cause of this problem? 4. Discuss measures taken to overcome population pressure in your locality. 4.8 LANGUAGE AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY IN ETHIOPIA At the end of this section, you will be able to: 🔆 describe the language diversity of Ethiopia; and 🔆 identify the major religions in Ethiopia. 4.8.1 Language Ethiopians are ethnically diverse, with the most important differences on the basis of linguistic categorization. Ethiopia is a country where about 80 languages are spoken. The Ethiopian languages belong to two super Families: i. Afro-Asiatic and ii. Nilo-Saharan. 117  Grade 9 | Geography Most Ethiopian languages belong to the Afro-Asiatic super Family. I. Afro-Asiatic The Afro-Asiatic super family is divided into three families, namely: a) Cushitic; b) Semitic and c) Omotic. a) Cushitic: the Cushitic languages are predominantly spoken in central, southern, eastern and northeastern parts of Ethiopia mainly in Afar, Oromia, Sidama, and Somali Regional States. It has the largest number of speakers and the widest spatial coverage. This family of languages consists of many individual languages such as Oromo language (Afaan Oromoo), Somali language (Af-Somali), Sidama language (Sidaamu Afo), Afar language (Qafaraf), Kembata language (Kambatissa), Hadiya language (Hadiyissa), Halaba language (Halabissa) and Gedeo language (Gedeoffa) and others. b) Semitic: the Semitic languages are spoken in northern, central and eastern parts of Ethiopia particularly in the regional states of Tigray, Amhara, Harari and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State. Some of the Semitic Languages include Amhara language (Amarigna), Tigrai language (Tigrigna), Gurage language (Guragigna), Adere language (Aderigna), and Argoba language (Argobigna). c) Omotic: the Omotic languages are predominantly spoken in the south–central and south-western parts of Ethiopia mainly between the Lakes of southern Rift Valley and the Omo River. The languages, which make up this family, are numerous although they are not as widely spoken as the Cushitic and Omotic. Wolaita language (Wolaitatto), Dawuro language (Dawurootsuwa), Kafa language (Kafi noono), and Konta language (Kontaatsuwa) are some of the languages spoken in this family. II. Nilo-Saharan The Nilo-Saharan languages are spoken in the western lowlands of Ethiopia along the border with Sudan, in Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz Regional States. The individual languages of Nilo-Saharan Super Family include Kunama language, Beiji language, Gumuz language, Mao language, Kewam language, Nuer language, Annuak language, and others. 118 UNIT FOUR POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA 4.8.2 Religion Ethiopia is home to diversified religions. According to the Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency (2007) census data, the national religious composition of Ethiopian include: Orthodox (43.5%), Islam (33.9%), Protestant (18.6%), Catholic (0.7%), and others (3.2%). Activity 4.12 In small groups, discuss the following questions 1. List down the Afro-Asiatic language families 2. List down some of the religions you know in Ethiopia. 119  Grade 9 | Geography UNIT SUMMARY 🌍 Human population is the number of people living in a definite area. The study of human population is also necessary for the development and socio-economic activities. 🌍 The term population, in population studies, refers to the total number of human inhabitants of a specified area, such as a city, country, or continent, at a given time. 🌍 Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa.with a population of 114.9 million. With a growth rate of 2.6 percent, the country’s population is among the fastest growing in the world. 🌍 In Ethiopia a high percentage of the national population is the young age group. This is the result of high birth rate. 🌍 In Ethiopia, the population is unevenly distributed; this is due to various physical and human-related factors. 🌍 Settlements in Ethiopia are broadly categorized as rural and urban. The primary bases for this distinction are the dominant economic activities and population density. 🌍 The majority of Ethiopian population (80 percent) currently lives in rural areas. 🌍 The lowlands of Ethiopia tend to be infested with tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever. 🌍 In Ethiopia, rapid population growth has brought about serious negative impacts on the country’s socio-economic development and on its environmental protection. 🌍 Ethiopians are ethnically diverse, with the most important differences on the basis of linguistic categorization. 🌍 Ethiopia is a country where more than 80 languages are spoken. The Ethiopian languages belong to two Super Families: Afro-Asiatic and Nilo-Saharan. UNIT FOUR 120  POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ETHIOPIA REVIEW EXCERCISES I. DETERMINE WHETHER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES IS ‘TRUE’ OR ‘FALSE’ 1. The main reason for the broad base of Ethiopia’s population pyramid is high rate of mortality in the country. 2. The high age dependency ratio in Ethiopia is the result of large numbers of people in the old-age group. 3. In Ethiopia, altitude is the major factor that influences population distribution. 4. In Ethiopia, fertility is higher in urban centres than in rural areas. 5. There is a direct relationship between fertility and education. II. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD OR PHRASE FROM THE GIVEN ALTERNATIVES. 1. One of the following is a branch of human geography that deals with the number, composition and distribution of human population in relation to the environment A. Climatology D. Map reading B. Population geography E. E. Biogeography C. Morphology 2. People living in rural settlements are mainly engaged in A. Industry D. Agriculture B. Trade E. Tourism C. Mining 3. Which of the following areas is in the most sparsely populated areas of Ethiopia? A. Kembata D. Hadiya B. Sidama E. B and D C. Borena 4. Rapid population growth results in A. Food sufficiency D. B and C B. Food shortage E. None of the above C. Shortage of housing Unit Summary and Review Exercises 121  Grade 9 | Geography III. FILL IN THE BLANK SPACES WITH THE CORRECT WORD OR PHRASE 1. ____is the graphic representation of the age distribution of a given population by sex. 2. The major human factors which have influenced population distribution in Ethiopia are ____ 3. _____ is the relationship between the working or economically active population and the non-working population. 4. In the pastoralist areas of Ethiopia, population densities are ________ 5. _____refers to any undesirable change in natural conditions of water, air, and other components of the natural environment 6. _____ is the number of people per unit area. UNIT FOUR 122