Jimma Zone

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Jimma is a Zone in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Jimma is named for the former Kingdom of Jimma, which was absorbed into the former province of Kaffa in 1932.

Jimma is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, the northwest by Illubabor, on the north by Mirab Welega, and on the northeast by Misraq Shewa. The highest point in this zone is Mount Maigudo (2,386 m). Towns and cities in Jimma include Agaro, Genet, Jimma, and Seka Chekorsa.

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 26,743 tons of coffee were produced in this zone in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 23.2% of the Region's output and 11.8% of Ethiopia's total output, and makes Jimma one of the three top producers of these goods, along with the Sidama and Gedeo Zones.^[1]

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the CSA in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 2,773,730, of whom 1,382,460 were males and 1,391,270 were females; 340,666 or 12.3% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 18,412.54 square kilometers, Jimma has an estimated population density of 150.64 people per square kilometer.^[2]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 9% of the inhabitants of Jimma have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 77.0 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),^[3] the average rural household has 0.9 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region)^[4] and the equivalent of 0.5 heads of livestock. 15.1% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. 57% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 12% in secondary schools. 29% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and 63% to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 298.^[5]