West Shewa Zone

West Shewa (Amharic: ምዕራብ ሸዋ; Oromo: Shawaa Lixaa/Dhihaa) is one of the zones of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. This zone takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa. West Shewa is bordered on the south by the Southwest Shewa Zone and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by Jimma, on the west by East Welega, on the northwest by Horo Gudru Welega, on the north by the Amhara Region, on the northeast by North Shewa, and on the east by Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne. Its highest point is Mount Wanchi (3386 meters); other notable peaks include Mount Menagesha and Mount Wachacha. Towns and cities in West Shewa include Ambo.

Map of the regions and zones of Ethiopia

Between 2002 and 2005, a number of woredas were separated from West Shewa to create South West Shewa Zone.

Demographics

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 2,058,676, of whom 1,028,501 are men and 1,030,175 women; with an area of 14,788.78 square kilometers, West Shewa has a population density of 139.21. While 242,352 or 6.10% are urban inhabitants, a further 53 individuals are pastoralists. A total of 428,689 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.80 persons to a household, and 415,013 housing units. The two largest ethnic groups reported in West Shewa were the Oromo (93.82%) and the Amhara (5.15%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.03% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 93.99% and 5.47% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.54% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 53.84% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 32.93% of the population professed Protestantism and 9.85% of the population said they practiced Islam.[1]

The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 2,329,699 in 480,735 households, of whom 1,153,185 were men and 1,176,514; 225,993 or 9.7% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in West Shewa were the Oromo (89.78%), the Amhara (6.66%), and the Sebat Bet Gurage (1.73%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.83% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 89.47%, 7.32% Amharic, and 1.16% spoke Sebat Bet Gurage; the remaining 2.05% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 80.6% of the population having reported they practice that belief, while 7% of the population said they held traditional beliefs, 6.58% were Protestant, and 5.34% were Muslim.[2]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 35% of the inhabitants of West Shewa have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 29.2 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),[3] the average rural household has 1.4 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region)[4] and the equivalent of 0.7 heads of livestock. 31.8% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. Concerning education, 66% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 28% in secondary schools. Concerning health, 89% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 406.[5]

Notes
  1. Census 2007 Tables: Oromia Region, Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.
  2. 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Oromia Region, Vol. 1, part 1, Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.12, 2.15, 2.17 (accessed 6 April 2009).
  3. "Ethiopia - Second Road Sector Development Program Project", p.3 (World Bank Project Appraisal Document, published 19 May 2003)
  4. Comparative national and regional figures comes from the World Bank publication, Klaus Deininger et al. "Tenure Security and Land Related Investment", WP-2991 (accessed 23 March 2006).
  5. World Bank, Four Ethiopias: A Regional Characterization (accessed 23 March 2006).

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