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Guide to Ethiopia

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Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture which accounts for 50% of the GDP, 90% of exports and 80% of total employment. This sector suffers frequently from drought and poor cultivation practices. Up to 4.6 million people need food assistance annually.

Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy and Ethiopia earned $267 million in 1999 by exporting 105,000 metric tonnes. Coffee contributes 10% of Ethiopia's GDP. More than 15 million people derive their livelihood from the coffee sector.

Other exports include live animals, hides, gold and chat.

Gross domestic product

		Ethiopia	UK	USA
	GDP - real growth rate	0%	1.9%	4.1%
	GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity	$560	$21,800	$33,900
	GDP - agriculture sector	46%	2%	2%
	GDP - industry sector	12%	25%	18%
	GDP - services sector	42%	73%	80%

Main industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement

Main agricultural products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, hides, cattle, sheep, goats

Main exports: coffee, gold, leather products, oilseeds

Labour force by occupation

		Ethiopia	UK	USA
	Agriculture	80%	1.1%	2.6%
	Government & services	12%	80.2%	72.9%
	Industry & construction	8%	18.7%	24.5%

Budget

		Ethiopia	UK	USA
	Revenue	$1 billion	$507 billion	$1.828 trillion
	Expenditure	$1.48 billion	$541 billion	$1.703 trillion

Debt - external: $10 billion

Economic aid received: $367 million

Currency: 1 birr = 100 cents, 1 pound sterling = about 12 birr, 1 US dollar = about 8 birr.

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