Soqota (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Soqota is one of the 105 woreda
s in the Amhara Region
of Ethiopia
. Located on the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian highlands
in the Wag Hemra Zone
, Soqota is bordered on the south by the Semien Wollo Zone
, on the southwest by Dehana
, on the northwest by the Tekezé River
which separates it from Zikuala
, and on the north and east by the Tigray Region
. Towns in Soqota include Nirak and Soqota
.
The predominantly hilly terrain of the woreda serves to isolate the inhabitants of Soqota, and their steep slopes are highly degraded limiting crops yields. Crops and animal husbandry are practiced together by local farmers. High points include Mount Biala (3,810 meters).
of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 112,396 of whom 56,245 are men and 56,151 women no urban inhabitants were reported. With an area of 1,722.43 square kilometers, Soqota has a population density of 65.25, which is greater than the Zone average of 47.15 persons per square kilometer. A total of 26,903 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.18 persons to a household, and 25,941 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 130,229 in 31,606 households, of whom 65,253 were men and 64,976 were women; 8,878 or 6.82% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Soqota were the Agaw
/Kamyr (74.24%), the Amhara
(22.57%), and the Tigrayan
(3.06%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.19% of the population. Kamyr was spoken as a first language by 68.67%, 26.72% Amharic
, and Tigrinya
was spoken by 4.56%; the remaining 0.05% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 99.34% reporting that as their religion.
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 on the eastern escarpment 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 Wag Hemra Zone
Wag Hemra Zone
Wag Hemra is a Zone in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Its name is a combination of the former province of Wag, and the dominant local ethnic group, the Kamyr Agaw. Wag Hemra is bordered on the south by Semien Wollo, on the southwest by Debub Gondar, on the west by Semen Gondar, on the north and...
, Soqota is bordered on the south by the Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo Zone
Semien Wollo is a Zone in the Ethiopian Amhara Region. Semien Wollo acquired its name from the former province of Wollo. Semien Wollo is bordered on the south by Debub Wollo, on the west by Debub Gondar, on the north by Wag Hemra, and on the northeast and east by the Afar Region; part of its...
, on the southwest by Dehana
Dehana
Dehana is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named for one of the five clans of the Agaw. Part of the Wag Hemra Zone, Dehana is bordered on the south by the Semien Wollo Zone, on the southwest by the Debub Gondar Zone, on the northwest by the Semien Gondar Zone, on...
, on the northwest by the Tekezé River
Tekezé River
The Tekezé River, also known as the Takkaze River, is a major river of Ethiopia, and forms a section the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea for part of its course. The river is also known as the Setit in Eritrea, western Ethiopia, and eastern Sudan. According to materials published by the...
which separates it from Zikuala
Zikuala
Zikuala is one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located at the northern point of the Wag Hemra Zone, Zikuala is bordered on the south by Dehana, on the west and north by the Debub Gondar Zone, and on the east by the Tekezé River which separates it from Soqota...
, and on the north and east by the Tigray Region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
. Towns in Soqota include Nirak and Soqota
Soqota
Soqota is a town in northern Ethiopia. The name is likely from the Agaw word sekut, "fortified village." Located the Wag Hemra Zone of the Amhara Region, Soqota has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 2266 meters above sea level...
.
The predominantly hilly terrain of the woreda serves to isolate the inhabitants of Soqota, and their steep slopes are highly degraded limiting crops yields. Crops and animal husbandry are practiced together by local farmers. High points include Mount Biala (3,810 meters).
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 112,396 of whom 56,245 are men and 56,151 women no urban inhabitants were reported. With an area of 1,722.43 square kilometers, Soqota has a population density of 65.25, which is greater than the Zone average of 47.15 persons per square kilometer. A total of 26,903 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.18 persons to a household, and 25,941 housing units.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 130,229 in 31,606 households, of whom 65,253 were men and 64,976 were women; 8,878 or 6.82% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Soqota were the Agaw
Agaw
The Agaw are an ethnic group in Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea.-History:The Agaw are perhaps first mentioned in the 3rd c. AD Aksumite inscription recorded by Cosmas Indicopleustes in the 6th century...
/Kamyr (74.24%), 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...
(22.57%), 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...
(3.06%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.19% of the population. Kamyr was spoken as a first language by 68.67%, 26.72% 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...
, and Tigrinya
Tigrinya language
Tigrinya , also spelled Tigrigna, Tigrnia, Tigrina, Tigriña, less commonly Tigrinian, Tigrinyan, is a Semitic language spoken by the Tigrinya people in central Eritrea , where it is one of the two main languages of Eritrea, and in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia , where it...
was spoken by 4.56%; the remaining 0.05% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 99.34% reporting that as their religion.