Bekoji (woreda)

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Bekoji is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone, Bekoji is bordered on the south by Gedeb, on the southwest by Kofele, on the west by Munesa, on the north by Digeluna Tijo, on the east by Sherka, and on the southeast by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone. Towns in Bekoji include Bekoji and Meraro.

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 234,741, of whom 119,275 were males and 115,466 were females; 30,137 or 12.84% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 1,501.72 square kilometers, Bekoji has an estimated population density of 156.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 132.2.^[1]

Bekoji is the home town of famous Ethiopian runners Derartu Tulu, the Bekele brothers (Kenenisa and Tariku and the Dibaba sisters (Ejegayehu, Tirunesh and Genzebe).