Dera, Oromia (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Dera is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone
, Dera is bordered on the south by the Jamma River
which separates it from Hidabu Abote
and Wara Jarso
, on the west, north and east by the Amhara Region
; the Abay River defines the western boundary, and its tributary the Walaqa
the northern. The administrative center of Dera is Gundo Meskel.
The woreda government announced March 2008 the completion of infrastructure improvements, which consisted of 77 kilometers of new road and an additional 366 kilometers renovated at the cost of 2.6 million Birr
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 193,214, of whom 99,085 are men and 94,129 are women; 5,719 or 2.96% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 9.5%. With an estimated area of 1,550.47 square kilometers, Dera has an estimated population density of 124.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 143.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 139,661, of whom 68,474 were men and 71,187 women; 3,210 or 2.3% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. Dera is almost evenly divided between the two largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda: the Oromo
(50.18%), and the Amhara
(49.76%). Further, Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 50.69%, and 49.28% spoke Oromiffa
. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 64.49% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 35.45% of the population said they were Moslem
.
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 Semien Shewa Zone
Semien Shewa Zone (Oromia)
Semien Shewa is one of the 12 Zones of the Ethiopian Region of Oromia. Semien Shewa takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa. Semien Shewa is bordered on the south by Addis Ababa, on the southwest by Mirab Shewa, on the north by the Amhara Region, and on the southeast by Misraq...
, Dera is bordered on the south by the Jamma River
Jamma River
The Jamma River is a river in central Ethiopia and a tributary of the Abay on its right side. It drains parts of the Semien Shewa Zones of the Amhara and Oromia Regions. The Upper Jamma flows through steep, deep canyons cut first through volcanic rock and then through the Cretaceous sandstone and...
which separates it from Hidabu Abote
Hidabu Abote
Hidabu Abote is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Hidabu Abote is bordered on the south by Kuyu, on the west by Wara Jarso, on the north by the Jamma River which separates it from Dera, and on the east by Degem...
and Wara Jarso
Wara Jarso
Wara Jarso is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Wara Jarso is bordered on the south by Kuyu, on the west by the Muger River which separates it from the Misraq Welega Zone, on the north by the Abay River which separates it from the Amhara Region,...
, on the west, north and east by the Amhara Region
Amhara Region
Amhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
; the Abay River defines the western boundary, and its tributary the Walaqa
Walaqa River
Walaqa River, a tributary of the Blue Nile, is an Ethiopian river in the Amhara Region. Wegde is located to its north. Mida Woremo and Dera are to the south, while Kelala is to the northeast. The Walaqa River may have been the northern boundary of the historical province of Walaqa.-External links:* *...
the northern. The administrative center of Dera is Gundo Meskel.
The woreda government announced March 2008 the completion of infrastructure improvements, which consisted of 77 kilometers of new road and an additional 366 kilometers renovated at the cost of 2.6 million Birr
Ethiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
.
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 193,214, of whom 99,085 are men and 94,129 are women; 5,719 or 2.96% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 9.5%. With an estimated area of 1,550.47 square kilometers, Dera has an estimated population density of 124.6 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 143.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 139,661, of whom 68,474 were men and 71,187 women; 3,210 or 2.3% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. Dera is almost evenly divided between the two largest ethnic groups reported in this woreda: 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...
(50.18%), 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...
(49.76%). Further, 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...
was spoken as a first language by 50.69%, and 49.28% spoke 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...
. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 64.49% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 35.45% of the population said they were Moslem
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...
.