Harari Region

Harari is in eastern Ethiopia.

It is a very small place. It is the smallest state in the land.

Most people live in cities there. People use two ways to talk. They speak Oromo and Amharic. Many people follow Islam. Some people also follow other faiths. You can see many groups of people there. It is a special home for the Harari people.

The Harari Region is in eastern Ethiopia.

It is the smallest state in the country. It is also the state with the fewest people. The region is a small area inside Oromia.

Most people in Harari live in cities. In 2007, more than half the people lived in urban areas. This is the only part of Ethiopia where most people live in cities. The capital city is Harar. It sits near the center of the region.

Many different groups live here. The Oromo are the largest group. The Amhara and Harari people also live there. People use two main languages. They speak Oromiffa and Amharic. Many people follow the religion of Islam. Others follow the Ethiopian Orthodox faith.

Farmers in the region keep animals. They have cattle, sheep, and goats. They also keep poultry and bees. The region has nine woredas. A woreda is a small area used for local government. Some woredas are in the city. Other woredas are in the countryside.

The Harari Region is a special place in eastern Ethiopia.

It is the smallest regional state in the whole country. This is true for both its land area and its number of people. The region is an enclave, which means it sits entirely inside the Oromia region.

Its capital is the city of Harar. This city and its nearby lands make up the entire region. It is the home of the Harari people.

Life in Harari is unique because of where people live. It is the only region in Ethiopia where most people live in urban areas. In 2007, about 54.18% of the people lived in cities. The total population was 183,415 people at that time. This included 92,316 men and 91,099 women. Most households have about 3.9 people living together. In the cities, families are a bit smaller with 3.4 people per home. In the countryside, households have about 4.6 people.

Many different groups of people call this region home. The Oromo are the largest group at 56.41%. The Amhara make up 22.77% of the people. The Harari people are 8.65% of the population. Other groups like the Gurage, Somali, Tigray, and Argobba also live there. People speak several languages to communicate. Oromiffa is the most common at 56.84%. Amharic is spoken by 27.53% of the people. Harari is spoken by 7.33% of the residents.

Religion is also a big part of life in the region. Most people, about 68.99%, follow Islam. About 27.1% of the people are Ethiopian Orthodox. There are also smaller groups of Protestant and Catholic believers. The region is divided into nine woredas for local government. Some woredas, like Abadir or Hakim, are in the city. Others, like Sofi or Erer, are in the rural countryside. There are 19 city kebeles and 17 rural kebeles in total.

Even in a small region, people work with many things. Farmers in Harari look after different kinds of animals. They have 31,730 cattle and 3,440 sheep. They also keep 26,910 goats and 6,320 asses. Some people keep poultry, with 31,430 birds in the region. There are even 670 beehives used for honey. Many people also work to get safe drinking water. In 2007, about 73.28% of the people had access to safe water.

The Harari Region is a unique political territory in eastern Ethiopia.

It is officially called the Harari People's National Regional State. This region serves as the ancestral homeland for the Harari people. It is a very small area compared to other parts of Ethiopia. In fact, it is the smallest regional state in the country. This status applies to both its total land area and its total population. The region is an enclave, meaning it is entirely surrounded by the Oromia region.

The region was formed through a specific administrative process. It was created by splitting the Hundane woreda from the East Hararghe Zone. A woreda is a local administrative division. Today, the capital of the region is the city of Harar. The borders of the state include the city and its immediate surroundings. The region is organized into nine different woredas. Some of these are urban, such as Hakim, Abadir, or Shenkor. Others are rural, including Erer, Sofi, and Dire-Teyara. Within these woredas, there are 19 city kebeles and 17 rural kebeles. A kebele is the smallest unit of local government.

Demographic data shows a very specific way of life in Harari. According to the 2007 Census, the total population was 183,415 people. This included 92,316 men and 91,099 women. The region has a high population density. There are approximately 589.05 people living in every square kilometer. The total land area is estimated at 311.25 square kilometers. Harari is the only region in Ethiopia where the majority of people live in urban areas. In 2007, 54.18% of the population lived in cities. This is a significant difference from other Ethiopian regions.

Many different ethnic groups and languages exist within the region. The Oromo people are the largest group, making up 56.41% of the population. The Amhara are the second largest group at 22.77%. The Harari people themselves account for 8.65% of the residents. Other groups include the Gurage, Somali, Tigray, and Argobba. Because of this diversity, several languages are used. Oromiffa is the most common language at 56.84%. Amharic is spoken by 27.53% of the people. The Harari language is spoken by 7.33% of the population. Somali and Gurage are also spoken by smaller groups.

Religion plays a major role in the culture of the region. Most residents follow Islam, which accounts for 68.99% of the population. The second largest religious group is Ethiopian Orthodox at 27.1%. There are also small numbers of Protestant and Catholic believers. These numbers have changed slightly over time. In 1994, the Muslim population was recorded at 60.28%. During that same year, the Ethiopian Orthodox population was 38.09%. These figures show how the religious landscape has shifted over the decades.

Economic activities in the region include both urban work and farming. In 2005, data showed that farmers managed various types of livestock. There were 31,730 head of cattle in the region. Farmers also kept 26,910 goats and 3,440 sheep. Other animals included 6,320 asses and 31,430 poultry birds. Some residents also manage beehives, with 670 recorded in 2005. Access to resources is also an important factor for the population. In 2007, 73.28% of the people had access to safe drinking water. This access was much higher in cities, where 95.28% had safe water.

The history of the region's leadership includes several different administrators. The first chief administrator listed for this period was Ali Abdullahi Gutu. He served from 1992 to August 1995. Since then, many leaders have guided the region. This includes leaders like Fuad Ibrahim and Murad Abdulhadi. More recently, Ordin Bedri has served as the administrator. These leaders manage the unique needs of a small, urban-centered enclave. The region continues to be a distinct part of the Ethiopian political system.