Burji special woreda
Encyclopedia
Burji is one of the 79 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia
. Because Burji is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area
. It is named for the Burji people, who have their homeland in this woreda. Burji is bordered on the east and south by the Oromia Region
, on the west by the Konso special woreda
, and on the north by the Amaro special woreda
. The administrative center of Burji is Soyama
.
Burji has 86 kilometers of all-weather roads and 20 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 80 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 55,681, of whom 27,207 are men and 28,474 women; with an area of 1,128.40 square kilometers, Burji has a population density of 49.35. While 6,274 or 11.27% are urban inhabitants, a further 12 individuals are pastoralists. A total of 10,619 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 5.24 persons to a household, and 10,266 housing units.
In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 38,746 in 7,409 households, of whom 19,205 were men and 19,541 women; 4,445 or 11.47% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Burji were the Burji (84.54%), the Koorete (11.75%), the Konso
(1.3%), and the Amhara
(1.06%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.35% of the population. Burji
was spoken as a first language by 80.47% of the inhabitants, 13.81% spoke Koorete
, 3.9% Oromiffa
, 0.87% Konso
, and 0.66% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 0.29% spoke all other primary languages reported. 42.71% of the population said they were Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 24.05% were Protestants
, 18.05% practiced traditional religions, and 14.29% were Muslim
. Concerning education
, 24.19% of the population were considered literate; 14.48% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 1.62% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.01% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
, about 3% of the urban houses and 9% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 39% of the urban and 6% of the total had toilet facilities.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Because Burji is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area
Autonomous area
An autonomous area or autonomous entity is an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or freedom from an external authority. Typically it is either geographically distinct from the rest of the country or populated by a national minority. Countries that include autonomous areas are often...
. It is named for the Burji people, who have their homeland in this woreda. Burji is bordered on the east and south by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the west by the Konso special woreda
Konso special woreda
Konso is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Konso is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. This woreda is named after the Konso...
, and on the north by the Amaro special woreda
Amaro special woreda
Amaro is one of the 79 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Amaro is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area...
. The administrative center of Burji is Soyama
Soyama
Soyama is a town in southern Ethiopia, and is the administrative center of the Burji special woreda. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1660 meters above sea level...
.
Burji has 86 kilometers of all-weather roads and 20 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 80 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 55,681, of whom 27,207 are men and 28,474 women; with an area of 1,128.40 square kilometers, Burji has a population density of 49.35. While 6,274 or 11.27% are urban inhabitants, a further 12 individuals are pastoralists. A total of 10,619 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 5.24 persons to a household, and 10,266 housing units.
In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 38,746 in 7,409 households, of whom 19,205 were men and 19,541 women; 4,445 or 11.47% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Burji were the Burji (84.54%), the Koorete (11.75%), the Konso
Konso people
The Konso or Konzo people are an ethnic group in south-central Ethiopia. According to the 2007 national census, they numbered 250,430 of whom 10,470 or 4.18% are urban dwellers. Over 87% live in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region....
(1.3%), and the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(1.06%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.35% of the population. Burji
Burji language
Burji language is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken by the Burji people who reside in Ethiopia south of Lake Chamo. There are over 46,000 speakers in Ethiopia, and a further 10,400 speakers in Kenya...
was spoken as a first language by 80.47% of the inhabitants, 13.81% spoke Koorete
Koorete language
Koorete is the language spoken by the Koore people of southern Ethiopia.-Bibliography:*Hayward, R. 1982. "Notes on the Koyra Language". Afrika und Übersee 65: pp. 211–268....
, 3.9% Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
, 0.87% Konso
Konso language
The Konso language is an East Cushitic language spoken in southwest Ethiopia. Native speakers of Konso number about 200,000...
, and 0.66% spoke Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
; the remaining 0.29% spoke all other primary languages reported. 42.71% of the population said they were Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 24.05% were Protestants
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
, 18.05% practiced traditional religions, and 14.29% were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
. Concerning education
Education in Ethiopia
Education in Ethiopia has been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Prior to 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and...
, 24.19% of the population were considered literate; 14.48% of children aged 7-12 were in primary school; 1.62% of the children aged 13-14 were in junior secondary school, and 1.01% of the inhabitants aged 15-18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
, about 3% of the urban houses and 9% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 39% of the urban and 6% of the total had toilet facilities.