Map and regions
The areas included in the study offer examples of different geographical regions, level of development, and population characteristics across Ethiopia.
See the regions on the map to find out about the areas where Young Lives children and their families live.
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Amhara National Regional State
Amhara is the second largest state in the country, both in area and population. It is also one of the poorest: In 2000, 42 per cent of the population did not have access to sufficient food (absolute food poverty index), and the per capita expenditure during the same period was Birr1088 (US132.36).
Over 90 per cent of the population live in the rural areas and live off subsistence farming and raising livestock (the region has the second largest number of cattle in the country).
The region is notable for its young population. 47 per cent are under 18, and only 3.9 percent of the population are aged 65 and above.
Overall, only 23 per cent of adults are literate. This drops to 16 per cent for women. In 2000, just over half of all eligible children were enrolled in primary school. However, on a more positive note there is little difference between enrolment rates for boys and girls (56 per cent male and 53 per cent female).
In 2001, 43 per cent of the population lived within a 10 km radius of a health facility, and just under half of all children under the age of one had received the DPPT3 vaccination.
Amhara is home to some of Ethiopia's most well-known tourist sites – the Castle of Gonder and the rock-hewn churches of Lalibella – and the region may see tourism develop in the future.
Source: Central Statistics Authority (2000) Welfare Monitoring Survey. Health Sector Development Mid-term Review Report (2001). Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (2002)
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Tigray National Regional State
The Tigray National Regional State (TNRS) covers the northern part of Ethiopia bordering Eritrea and the Sudan.
Out of the total population, 82 per cent reside in the rural areas and depend on rain-fed subsistence farming. This reliance on rain can cause severe food shortages. The rains in Northern Ethiopia are erratic and unevenly distributed and affect crop production.
In 2000, 61 per cent of the population lived in absolute poverty and real expenditure per capita stood at Birr 854 (US$103.90).
While the adult literacy rate in the region is 29 per cent (40 per cent for men and 19 per cent for women), the gross primary enrolment rate has reached 61 per cent. Unusually, the enrolment rate for girls (62 per cent) is higher than that for boys (59 per cent).
65 per cent of the population live within a 10 km radius of a health facility. Of the four regions where Young Lives is working, the Tigray region has the highest DPPT3 coverage for children under-1 at 76 per cent.
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Oromiya National Regional State
Oromiya is the largest region in the country, both in terms of land and
population size. However, the population density is only 65 people per square
km, i.e. fourth after the other Young Lives regions of Southern Nations,
Nationalities' and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPRS), Amhara and Tigray.
Oromiya has a young population like the other regions. 46 per cent of the
population is under 15, whilst only 3.4 per cent of the population is over 64.
In Oromiya, almost 90 per cent of the population live in rural areas. It is the largest producer of coffee, a key Ethiopian export. The main source of livelihood is mixed farming i.e. livestock and crops. The region has the highest number of cattle in the country. It also has rich mineral deposits, including gold.
Oromiya is wealthiest of the four Young Lives regions. In 1999/00, 40 per cent of the population had insufficient food to eat (absolute food poverty index) and real per capita expenditure during the same period was Birr 1055 (US$128.34).
Despite the greater wealth of the region, the adult literacy rate is comparable to that of Amhara and Tigray at 27 per cent. As in the other regions, women's literacy rate is lower than that for men (16 per cent of women are literate compared to 38 per cent of men). 61 per cent of eligible children are enrolled in primary school (74 per cent of boys and 47 per cent of girls).
In 2001, 53 per cent of the population in Oromiya lived within a 10 km radius of a health facility. Only 34 per cent of children under-one in the same year received the DPPT3 vaccination.
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Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State
Southern Nations, Nationalities' and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPRS) is one of the nine regional states of Ethiopia. It covers ten per cent of the country and is home to 21 per cent of the population. It is the most densely populated region with 112 people per square km.
With 56 ethnic groups, a key characteristic of the region is its ethnic diversity. The population is predominantly rural with 64 per cent living in the highlands, 28 per cent in the lowlands and 8 per cent in urban areas.
Agriculture is the main occupation. Coffee is a key Ethiopian export and SNNPRS produces 40 per cent of the country's coffee. However, most farming is small-scale mixed farming. The average landholding is 1-1.2 hectares and just over half of all farming households own no cattle.
In 2000, 51 per cent of the population lived in absolute poverty. During the same year, the real expenditure per capita was Birr 965 (US$117.40).
Only 30 per cent of the adult population are literate and as in other regions there is a gender disparity in literacy levels (43 per cent for men and 17 per cent for women). The gross primary enrolment in 2000 was 62 per cent and is the highest amongst the regions where Young Lives is working. However, there continues to be gender inequality in access to education, as 77 per cent of boys were enrolled in comparison to only 46 per cent of girls.
32 per cent of children under-one receive the DPPT3 vaccination, which is a similar level of coverage to that in Oromiya. Potential health service coverage in the SNNRS in 2001 was 50 per cent.
Source: Southern Nations, Nationalities' and Peoples' Regional State. Paper Presented for the Country Strategy Paper Consultation (2002). Welfare Monitoring Survey, 2000, Central Statistics authority. Health Sector Development Programme Midterm Review Report (2001).
Young Lives developed a general multi-stage sampling approach which was adapted to the national context in each country. The country team’s approach is discussed in their country sampling paper and a summary is available in the preliminary country report.