Misraq Welega Zone

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Misraq Welega (or "East Welega") is one of the 12 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. This zone acquired its name from the former province of Welega.

Misraq Welega is bounded on the southwest by Illubabor, on the west by the Didessa River which separates it from Mirab Welega, on the northwest and north by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the east by Mirab Shewa, and on the southeast by Jimma. The highest point in this zone is Mount Garochan (3,276 m).

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 40,606 tons of coffee were produced in Mirab and Misraq Welega combined in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 35.3% of the Region's output and 17.9% of Ethiopia's total output.^[1]

Based on figures from the CSA in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 1,779,636, of whom 873,408 were males and 906,228 were females; 247,991 or 13.9% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 21,863.82 square kilometers, Misraq Welega has an estimated population density of 81.40 people per square kilometer.^[2] Towns and cities in this zone include Finicha'a, Guduru (also known as Kombolcha), Nekemte, and Shambu.

Scattered throughout this zone are large islands of Amharic speakers.