Geshe Rabel
Encyclopedia
Geshe Rabel is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Located at the eastern edge of the Ethiopian highlands
in the Semien Shewa Zone, Geshe Rabel is bordered on the south by the Gera Midirna Keya Gebriel, on the west and north by the Debub Wollo Zone
, and on the east by Antsokiyana Gemza
; the Wanchet River
defines its western boundary. The name of this woreda is a combination of the name of a district of the former province or kingdom of Shewa
, Gishe, and its administrative center, Rabel.
Elevations in Geshe Rabel range from about 1200 meters along the Wanchet to over 3000 meters above sea level in the ridge of mountains that run near the eastern border of this woreda. Rivers include the Albuko, Yasha, and Yada rivers.
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 61,521, an increase of 19.97% over the 1994 census, of whom 30,448 are men and 31,073 women; 2,774 or 4.51% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 658.78 square kilometers, Geshe Rabel has a population density of 93.39, which is less than the Zone average of 115.3 persons per square kilometer. A total of 13,691 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.49 persons to a household, and 13,199 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 51,283 in 10,715 households, of whom 25,574 were men and 25,709 were women; 1,113 or 2.17% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Geshe Rabel was the Amhara
(99.93%), and Amharic
was spoken as a first language by 99.94%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 95.56% reporting that as their religion, while 4.26% were Muslim
.
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 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....
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...
. Located at the eastern edge of the Ethiopian highlands
Ethiopian Highlands
The Ethiopian Highlands are a rugged mass of mountains in Ethiopia, Eritrea , and northern Somalia in the Horn of Africa...
in the Semien Shewa Zone, Geshe Rabel is bordered on the south by the Gera Midirna Keya Gebriel, on the west and north by the Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo Zone
Debub Wollo is one of 10 Zones in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. It acquired its name from the former province of Wollo.Debub Wollo is bordered on the south by Semien Shewa and the Oromia Region, on the west by Mirab Gojjam, on the northwest by Debub Gondar, on the north by Semien Wollo and on the...
, and on the east by Antsokiyana Gemza
Antsokiyana Gemza
Antsokiyana Gemza is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is partly named for one of the districts of the province or kingdom of Shewa, Antsokia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Antsokiyana Gemza is bordered on the south by Efratana Gidim, on the west by Geshe Rabel,...
; the Wanchet River
Wanchet River
Wanchet River is a river of central Ethiopia, and a tributary of the Jamma River. Along with the Adabay River, it defined the border of the former district of Marra Biete. Its crossing "Aqui afagi" is mentioned in the account of Francisco Álvares, who crossed it several times in the first quarter...
defines its western boundary. The name of this woreda is a combination of the name of a district of the former province or kingdom of Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
, Gishe, and its administrative center, Rabel.
Elevations in Geshe Rabel range from about 1200 meters along the Wanchet to over 3000 meters above sea level in the ridge of mountains that run near the eastern border of this woreda. Rivers include the Albuko, Yasha, and Yada rivers.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 national 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 61,521, an increase of 19.97% over the 1994 census, of whom 30,448 are men and 31,073 women; 2,774 or 4.51% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 658.78 square kilometers, Geshe Rabel has a population density of 93.39, which is less than the Zone average of 115.3 persons per square kilometer. A total of 13,691 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.49 persons to a household, and 13,199 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 51,283 in 10,715 households, of whom 25,574 were men and 25,709 were women; 1,113 or 2.17% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Geshe Rabel was 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...
(99.93%), and 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 99.94%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 95.56% reporting that as their religion, while 4.26% 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...
.