ETHIOPIA
 

The flag is red (for sacrifice), green (for labor,

development, and fertility), and yellow (for
hope, justice, and equality). Tricolor pennants
were used prior to the official flag of Oct. 6,
1897, and a tricolor was flown by antigovernment forces in 1991.
On Feb. 6, 1996, the disk (for peace) and star (for unity and the
future) were added.
 
 
 
 

                                        Official name: Federal Democratic
                                        Republic of Ethiopia.

                                  Form of government: federal republic
                                        with two legislative houses (Federal
                                        Council [117]; Council of People's
                                        Representatives [548]).

                                        Chief of state: President.

                                        Head of government: Prime Minister.
 

                                        Population (1998): 58,390,000.

                                        Population projection: (2000)
                                        60,967,000; (2010) 74,832,000.

                                        Natural increase rate per 1,000
                                        population (1995-2000): 32.0 (world
                                        avg. 15.7).

                                        Gross national product (1996):
                                        U.S.$6,042,000,000 (U.S.$100 per
                                        capita).

                                        Land use (1994): forest 13.3%;
                                        pasture 20.0%; agriculture 11.0%;
                                        other 55.7%.