Dega (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Dega is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Illubabor Zone
, Dega is bordered on the south by Chora
, on the west by Supena Sodo
, on the north by the Mirab Welega Zone
, on the northeast by the southern exclave of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and on the east by Bedele
. Towns in Dega include Dega and Mako.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 63,542, of whom 32,871 are men and 30,671 are women; 4,876 or 7.67% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 12%. With an estimated area of 882.35 square kilometers, Dega has an estimated population density of 72 people per square kilometer, which is about the same as the Zone average of 72.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 45,423, of whom 22,029 were men and 23,394 women; 2,731 or 6.01% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Dega were the Oromo
(91.91%), the Amhara
(6.68%), and the Tigrayan
(1.17%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.24% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 93.23%, and 5.61% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 1.16% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 81.36% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 9.87% of the population said they were Muslim
, 5.29% were Protestant
, and 3.3% held traditional beliefs.
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 Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
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...
. Part of the Illubabor Zone
Illubabor Zone
Illubabor is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Illubabor is named for the former province Illubabor. It is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by the Gambela Region, on the west by Misraq Welega, on the north by the...
, Dega is bordered on the south by Chora
Chora (woreda)
Chora is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Chora is bordered on the south by the Jimma Zone, on the west by Yayu, on the northwest by Supena Sodo, on the north by Dega, and on the east by Bedele. The major town in Chora is Kumbabe.Coffee is an...
, on the west by Supena Sodo
Supena Sodo
Supena Sodo is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Supena Sodo is bordered on the south by Yayu, on the southwest by Metu, on the west by Darimu, on the north by the Mirab Welega Zone, on the northeast by Dega, and on the southeast by Chora...
, on the north by the Mirab Welega Zone
Mirab Welega Zone
Mirab Welega is one of the 12 Zones in the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. This zone is named after the former province of Welega, whose western part lay in the area Mirab Misraq now occupies....
, on the northeast by the southern exclave of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and on the east by Bedele
Bedele (woreda)
Bedele is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Bedele is bordered on the south by Gechi, on the southwest by Chora, on the west by Dega, on the north by the southern exclave of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the northeast by the Didessa River which...
. Towns in Dega include Dega and Mako.
Demographics
Based on figures published 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...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 63,542, of whom 32,871 are men and 30,671 are women; 4,876 or 7.67% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 12%. With an estimated area of 882.35 square kilometers, Dega has an estimated population density of 72 people per square kilometer, which is about the same as the Zone average of 72.3.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 45,423, of whom 22,029 were men and 23,394 women; 2,731 or 6.01% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Dega were the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(91.91%), 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...
(6.68%), and the Tigrayan
Tigray-Tigrinya people
Tigray-Tigrinya are an ethnic group who live in the southern, central and northern parts of Eritrea and the northern highlands of Ethiopia's Tigray province. They also live in Ethiopia's former provinces of Begemder and Wollo, which are today mostly part of Amhara Region, though a few regions...
(1.17%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.24% of the population. 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...
was spoken as a first language by 93.23%, and 5.61% 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 1.16% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 81.36% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 9.87% of the population said they 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...
, 5.29% were Protestant
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...
, and 3.3% held traditional beliefs.