Debub Wollo Zone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Debub Wollo (or "South Wollo") is one of 10 Zones in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. Debub Wollo acquired its name from the former province of Wollo.

Debub Wollo is bordered on the south by Semien Shewa and the Oromia Region, on the west by Mirab Gojjam, on the northwest by Debub Gondar, on the north by Semen Wollo and on the east by the Oromia Zone. Its highest point is Mount Amba Ferit. Towns and cities in Debub Wello include Amba Mariam, Hayq, Dessie, and Wuchale.

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 2,942,886, of which 1,446,752 were males and 1,496,134 were females; 366,095 or 12.4% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 16,956.06 square kilometers, Debub Wollo has an estimated population density of 173.56 people per square kilometer.^[1]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 13% of the inhabitants of Debub Wollo have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 76.1 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers)^[2], the average rural household has 0.7 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 0.75 for the Amhara Region)^[3] and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 10.6% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a regional average of 21%. 63% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 12% in secondary schools. 45% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 557.^[4]