Asosa Zone

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Asosa is one of the three Zones in Benishangul-Gumaz Region of Ethiopia. This Zone was named after the Asosa Sultanate, which had approximately the same boundaries.

Asosa is bordered on the south by the Mao-Komo special woreda, on the west by Sudan, on the northeast by the Abay River which separates it from Metekel, and on the east by the Dabus River which separates it from Kamashi. The largest town in this zone is Asosa. Its highest point is Mount Bambesi, located in the woreda of the same name.

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 282,596, of whom 143,544 were males and 139,052 were females; 28,264 or 10% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 14,166.12 square kilometers, Asosa has an estimated population density of 19.95 people per square kilometer.^[1]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 9% of the inhabitants of Asosa have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 35.6 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers, the average rural household has 1 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 2.25 for pastorial Regions)^[2] and the equivalent of 0.4 heads of livestock. 17.1% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a regional average of 28%. 72% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 13% in secondary schools. 34% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and 58% to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 324.^[3]