About IWGIAIndigenous peoples in Ethiopia
Pastoralism in Ethiopia constitutes a unique and important way of life for close to 10 million of the country’s total estimated population of 80 million.
Pastoralists live in around seven of the country’s nine regions, inhabiting almost the entire lowlands, which constitute around 61% of the country’s landmass. Pastoralists own 40% of the livestock population in the country.
The pastoral population is heterogeneous in its ethnic composition and social structure, having some larger ethnic groups such as the Afar and Oromo, with well over four million pastoral people between them. The rest are Omotic pastoral groups such as the Hamer, Dassenech, Nygagaton and Erbore, and the Nuer and other groups living in the western lowlands.
The situation of the indigenous peoples in Ethiopia
The pastoralist in Ethiopia face a fragile existence, mainly characterized by unpredictable and unstable climatic conditions, such as recurring droughts and floods.
They are also affected by persistent food insecurity, conflict, inadequate services and infrastructure and they are among the poorest of the poor in terms of disposable incomes, access to social services and general welfare. Access to health care and primary and secondary education is for example very low compared with other areas (mid- and highlands) of the country.
Download the 2011 yearbook article on indigenous peoples in Ethiopia to read more about major developments and events during 2010
