Editing Arsi Zone

{{Short description|Zone in Oromia Region of Ethiopia}}
[[File:Map of zones of Ethiopia.svg|thumb|A map of the regions and zones of Ethiopia]]

'''Arsi''' ({{langx|om|Godina Arsii}}) is a [[Zones of Ethiopia|zone]] in [[Oromia Region]] of [[Ethiopia]], named after a clan of the [[Oromo people|Oromo]], who inhabit in the area.

Arsi is bordered on the south by [[Bale Zone]], on the southwest by the [[West Arsi Zone]], on the northwest by [[East Shewa Zone]], on the north by the [[Afar Region]] and on the east by [[West Hararghe Zone]]. It covers an area of 19,825.22 km<sup>2</sup>, divided into 25 [[wereda|district]]s (''weredas''). The population was officially estimated at 3,894,248 in mid 2022.<ref name=ESS2022-size>{{cite web|website=Ethiopian Statistics Service|date=2022|url=https://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Population-Size-by-Sex-Zone-and-Wereda-July-2022.pdf|title=Population Size by Sex, Area and Density by Region, Zone and Wereda: July 2022}}</ref><!-- Note: this estimate of population size is based on a projection rather than a full census --> The highest point in Arsi Zone is [[Mount Chilalo]]; other notable mountains in this zone include [[Mount Kaka]] and [[Mount Gugu]]. [[Arsi Mountains National Park]] was created in 2011 to protect a section of the mountains. The administrative centre of this zone is in [[Asella|Asela]], with an estimated 139,537 inhabitants in mid 2022;<ref name=ESS2022-sizeoftowns>{{cite web|website=Ethiopian Statistics Service|date=2022|url=https://www.statsethiopia.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Population-Size-of-Towns-by-Sex-July-2022.pdf|title=Population Size of Towns by Sex, Region, Zone and Wereda: July 2022}}</ref><!-- Note: this estimate of population size is based on a projection rather than a full census --> other towns in this zone (with estimated populations in mid 2022) include Bokoji (36,805) in [[Limuna Bilbilo]] District, Robe (31,445) in [[Robe (Aanaa)|Robe]] District, Etaya (31,094) in [[Hitosa]] District, Dera (30,676) in [[Dodota]] District, Abomsa (30,377) in [[Merti]] District, Hurta (27,523) in [[Lude Hitosa]] District, Sagure (24,932) in [[Digeluna Tijo]] District, and Kersa (23,313) in [[Munesa]] District.<ref name=ESS2022-sizeoftowns/><!-- Note: this estimate of population size is based on a projection rather than a full census --> Some districts in the southwestern part of this zone were separated from Arsi Zone to create a new [[West Arsi Zone]].

In 2014, a monument has been erected to remember the victims.<ref>OPRIDE, 8 April 2014: Aanolee: [https://www.opride.com/2014/04/08/aanolee-mutilation-a-tragedy-on-which-ethiopian-sources-are-silent/ ‘a tragedy on which Ethiopian sources are silent’]</ref><ref>Mulualem Daba Tola, 2017: [https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234675954.pdf The Theses and Antitheses of Anoole Statue in the Ethiopian Polity]</ref>

== Economy ==
[[Coffee production in Ethiopia|Coffee]] has been a major cash crop in Arsi as early as 1912, when two [[Belgium|Belgian]] companies were granted concessions of 1,464 hectares of land for cultivating coffee in the area of the current Zone. After [[World War I]], these companies encountered financial difficulties and merged, and harvested as much as 613 tons of coffee at their peak (1931-21).<ref>Richard Pankhurst, ''Economic History of Ethiopia'' (Addis Ababa: Haile Selassie I University, 1968), p. 203</ref> The [[Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)|Central Statistical Agency]] (CSA), reported that 2198 tons of coffee were produced in this zone in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 1.9% of the Region's output and 0.97% of Ethiopia's total output. Arsi University was established in 2014 at [[Asella]]. <ref>[http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123121716/http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm |date=November 23, 2006 }}, Table D.2</ref>

== Demographics ==
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this Zone has a total population of 2,637,657, of whom 1,323,424 are men and 1,314,233 women; with an area of 19,825.22 square kilometres, Arsi has a population density of 133.05. While 305,701 or 11.59% are urban inhabitants, a further 7,098 or 0.27% are pastoralists. A total of 541,959 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.87 persons to a household, and 523,342 housing units. The two largest ethnic groups reported were the [[Oromo people|Oromo]] (84.15%) and the [[Amhara people|Amhara]] (14.3%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.55% of the population. [[Oromo language|Oromiffa]] was spoken as a first language by 81.38% and [[Amharic language|Amharic]] was spoken by 17.76%; the remaining 0.86% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were [[Islam in Ethiopia|Muslim]], with 58.1% of the population having reported they practised that belief, while 40.01% of the population professed [[Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity]] and 1.43% of the population professed [[P'ent'ay|Protestantism]].<ref>[http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=272&format=raw&Itemid=521 Census 2007 Tables: Oromia Region] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113202722/http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=272&format=raw&Itemid=521 |date=November 13, 2011 }}, Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.</ref> The official estimate of population for this zone was 3,894,248 as at mid 2022, of which 1,944,164 were male and 1,950,084 were female; the population density was 196.4 per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=ESS2022-size/><!-- Note: this estimate of population size is based on a projection rather than a full census -->

The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 2,217,245 in 438,561 households, of whom 1,105,439 were men and 1,111,806 women; 216,413 or 9.76% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Arsi were the [[Oromo people|Oromo]] (82.93%), and the [[Amhara people|Amhara]] (15.38%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.69% of the population. [[Oromo language|Oromiffa]] was spoken as a first language by 80.01%, and 19.19% spoke [[Amharic language|Amharic]]; the remaining 0.8% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were [[Islam in Ethiopia|Muslim]], with 59.33% of the population having reported they practised that belief, while 39.95% of the population said they professed [[Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity]].<ref>[http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck04%5Ck04_partI.pdf ''1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Oromia Region'', Vol. 1, part 1] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115040247/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs%5Creport%5CStatistical_Report%5Ck04%5Ck04_partI.pdf |date=November 15, 2009 }}, Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.12, 2.15, 2.17 (accessed 6 April 2009).</ref>

According to a May 24, 2004 [[World Bank]] memorandum, 4% of the inhabitants of Arsi have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 45.0 kilometres per 1000 square kilometres (compared to the national average of 30 kilometres),<ref>"[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&theSitePK=523679&entityID=000112742_20030530104124&searchMenuPK=64187283&theSitePK=523679 Ethiopia - Second Road Sector Development Program Project]", p.3 (World Bank Project Appraisal Document, published 19 May 2003)</ref> the average rural household has 1.2 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region)<ref>Comparative national and regional figures comes from the World Bank publication, [http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?ImgPagePK=64202990&entityID=000094946_03032704080562&menuPK=64168175&pagePK=64210502&theSitePK=477938&piPK=64210520 Klaus Deininger et al. "Tenure Security and Land Related Investment", WP-2991] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310150244/http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?ImgPagePK=64202990&entityID=000094946_03032704080562&menuPK=64168175&pagePK=64210502&theSitePK=477938&piPK=64210520 |date=2007-03-10 }} (accessed 23 March 2006).</ref> and the equivalent of 1.1 heads of livestock. 16.5% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. Concerning [[Education in Ethiopia|education]], 84% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 22% in secondary schools. 17% of the zone is exposed to [[malaria]], and none to [[Tsetse fly]]. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 364.<ref>[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTETHIOPIA/Resources/PREM/FourEthiopiasrev6.7.5.May24.pdf World Bank, ''Four Ethiopias: A Regional Characterization''] (accessed 23 March 2006).</ref>

== Notes ==
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{{Districts of the Oromia Region}}

{{coord|7|45|N|39|30|E|display=title|type:adm3rd_region:ET}}

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[[Category:Oromia]]
[[Category:Zones of Ethiopia]]