Ethiopia factsheet for adoption travel

Flag of Ethiopia
Related Resources•
Cross-Cultural Parenting•
Ethiopia Adoption Resources•
International UpdatesWhat You Need to KnowCheck
Adoption Travel Resources for more information.
Large flag to print outCountry name:long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
short form: Ethiopia
abbreviation: FDRE
local short form:
Ityop'iyalocal long form:
Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi RipeblikWhat the people are called:noun, singular: Ethiopian
noun, plural: Ethiopians
adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups:Oromo (40%), Amhara and Tigre (32%), Sidamo (9%), Shankella (6%), Somali (6%), Afar (4%), Gurage (2%), other.
U.S. EmbassyEmbassy of the United States of America
PO Box 1014
Entota Street
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 1-550-666
Fax:(251) 1-551-328
Web site:
http://usembassy.state.gov/ethiopiaCanadian EmbassyCanadian Embassy
PO Box 1130
Old Airport Area
Weredea 23, Keble 12, House 122
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 1-713-022
Fax:(251) 1-713-033
(no Web site)
Money:1 Ethiopian Birr (Birr) = 100 cents
(
currency conversion)
Time Zone:GMT +3 (
What's GMT?)
Phone/Internet info:Country Area Code: 251
There is an Internet cafe in Addis Ababa.
Mobile phone coverage is very limited, but is available (GSM 900 networks). International calling cards may also provide a way to contact (calling to or from the U.S.). You may want to consider renting a compatible phone and service plan.
Major languages spoken:Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Alphabet:The written language is significantly different than English letters:
See it here.Major holidays:Public holidays 2004
Jan 07* - Ethiopian Christmas
Jan 19* - Timket (Epiphany)
Feb 02 - Eid-al Adha (Arafat)
Mar 02 - Battle of Adowa
Apr 9* - Ethiopian Good Friday
Apr 11* - Ethiopian Easter
May 02 - Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
May 28 - Downfall of the Dergue
Sep 11* - Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)
Sep 28* - Finding of the True Cross (Meskel)
Nov 14-16 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
* Indicates Coptic holidays.
Note that Ethiopia still uses the Julian calendar (divided into twelve months, each with 30 days, and then a thirteenth month with five or six days at the end). Also, Muslim festivals are timed according to various phases of the moon and the above dates given are approximate. Finally, during the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eil al-Fitr, normal business may be disrupted.
Common names:~
Nancy Ashe
Add Your Comments!
We want to know what you think. Your comments are important to us and the other readers. You are what makes this site special.