Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II.

Ethiopia occupies most of the Horn of Africa. The country covers approximately 1,221,900 square kilometers and shares frontiers with Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, and Djibouti.

The major physiographic features are a massive highland complex of mountains and plateaus divided by the Great Rift Valley and surrounded by lowlands along the periphery. The diversity of the terrain is fundamental to regional variations in climate, natural vegetation, soil composition, and settlement patterns.

OVERVIEW
• Full name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Head of state: President Girma
  Woldegiorgis
• Prime minister Meles Zenawi
• Population 83.1 million (UN, 2007)
• Capital Addis Ababa
• Area:1.13 million sq km (437,794 sq miles)
• Major languages: Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali
• Major religions: Christianity, Islam
• Life expectancy: 52 years (men), 54 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Birr = 100 cents
• Main exports: Coffee, hides, oilseeds, beeswax, sugarcane
• Internet domain: .et
• International dialling code: +251