Arsi Zone

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Arsi (or Arusi) is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. Arsi is also the name of a former province. Both the Zone and the former province are named after a subgroup of the Oromo, who inhabit both the Arsi Region.

Arsi is bordered on the south by Bale, on the southwest by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, on the northwest by Misraq (East) Shewa, on the north by the Afar Region and on the east by Mirab (West) Hararghe. The highest point in Arsi is Mount Chilalo; other notable mountains in this zone include Mount Kaka and Mount Gugu.

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA), reported that 2198 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 1.9% of the Region's output and 0.97% of Ethiopia's total output.^[1] The administrative center of this zone is in Asella; other towns in this zone include Ambosa and Asasa.

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the CSA in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 3,135,686, of whom 1,557,984 were males and 1,577,702 were females; 386,707 or 12.3% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 23,724.44 square kilometers, Arsi has an estimated population density of 132.17 people per square kilometer.^[2]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 4% of the inhabitants of Arsi have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 45.0 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),^[3] the average rural household has 1.2 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 1.1 heads of livestock. 16.5% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. 84% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 22% in secondary schools. 17% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 364.^[5]