Introducing Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a federal democratic republic with nine states and two city administrations. With an estimated population of 94 million, it is the second most populous country in Africa. It is also one of the continent's fastest growing economies. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was USD 46.87 billion in 2013, with a growth rate of 10.4 per cent the same year and an average growth rate of 10.9 per cent since 2004. The rate of growth is projected to average 7.3 per cent from 2015 to 2018.
Economic growth is primarily driven by government-led development policies, with a rapid expansion of public infrastructure and basic services. Increasing exports and foreign direct investment have also fuelled growth.
Agriculture remains central to the country’s structural transformation and poverty reduction efforts. The agricultural sector contributes 44 per cent of GDP, while industry’s share remains relatively small, accounting for 13 per cent of GDP. The manufacturing subsector amounts to four per cent of the overall GDP.