Demographics
Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 67,042, of which 33,939 were males and 33,103 were females; 34,883 or 52% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 4,696.89 square kilometers, the zone has an estimated population density of 14.27 people per square kilometer. [1]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 45,207 in 29,688 households, of whom 23,189 were men and 22,018 women; 20,369 or 45.06% of the population were urban inhabitants. The five largest ethnic groups of the region were the Anuak (47.47%), the Nuer (24.4%), the Oromo (12.09%), the Amhara (6.12%), and the Tigray (2.79%); all other ethnic groups made up 7.13% of the population. Anuak is spoken as a first language by 47.56%, 24.37% speak Nuer, 12.14% Oromiffa, 6.64% Amharic, and 2.66% speak Tigrinya; the remaining 6.63% spoke all other primary languages reported. The largest group of the inhabitants said they were Protestant, with 36.76% of the population reporting they embraced that belief, while 31.3% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 6.82% practiced traditional religions, 4.32% were Catholic, and 2.75% were Muslim. [2]
The Anuak, also known as the Anyuak, Anywaa Anywaa and Anywaa, are a Luo Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting parts of East Africa. The Anuak belong to the larger Luo family group. Their language is referred to as Dha-anywaa. They are primarily found in villages situated along the banks and rivers of southeastern South Sudan as well as southwestern Ethiopia, especially the Gambela Region. Group members number between 200,000 and 300,000 people worldwide.
The Nuer people are a Nilotic ethnic group primarily inhabiting the Nile Valley. They are concentrated in South Sudan, with some also found in southwestern Ethiopia. They speak the Nuer language, which belongs to the Nilo-Saharan family. As one of the largest ethnic groups in southern Sudan, the Nuer people are pastoralist who herd cattle for a living. The cattle of the Nuer people serve as companions and a lifestyle. However, they refer to themselves as "Nath". The Nuer people have historically been under-counted as a result of the semi-nomadic lifestyle in which the community engages, as well as a lack of proper national census information about the community. In addition, the Nuer also have a culture of counting only older members of the family. For example, the Nuer believes that counting the number of children one has could result in misfortune and the community prefer to report fewer number of children when in fact they have many children.
The Oromo people are an ethnic group inhabiting Ethiopia. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia and represent 34.5% of Ethiopia's population. Oromos speak the Oromo language as a mother tongue, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. The word Oromo appeared in European literature for the first time in 1893 and then slowly became common in the second half of the 20th century.
Gambela is a city and separate woreda in Ethiopia and the capital of the Gambela Region or kilil. Located in Anuak Zone, at the confluence of the Baro River and its tributary the Jajjaba, the city has a latitude and longitude of 8°15′N 34°35′E and an elevation of 526 meters. It is surrounded by Gambela Zuria.
Administrative Zone 3 is a former administrative subdivision of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. This zone was bordered by Sudan on the south, west and north, by Administrative Zone 1 on the east and Administrative Zone 2 on the southeast; the Pibor defines the border on the south and west, while the Baro defines it for the northern border. Towns in this zone included Tergol and Telut. Most of the area of this zone was added to Nuer Zone and some parts were added to Anuak Zone.
Godere is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mezhenger Zone, Godere is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), and on the west by Mengesh. The largest town in Godere is Meti.
Abobo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Abobo is bordered on the southeast by the Mezhenger Zone, on the south by Gog, on the southwest by Jor, on the northwest by Itang special woreda, on the north by Gambela Zuria, and on the northeast by the Oromia Region; part of its northern boundary is defined by the Alwero River. The major town in Abobo is Abobo.
Gog is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Gog is bordered on the south by Dimma, on the southwest by the Akobo River which separates it from South Sudan, on the west by Jor, and on the north by Abobo. The major town in Gog is Fugnido.
Jor is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Jor is bordered on the south by the Akobo River which separates it from South Sudan, on the west and north by the Nuer Zone, on the northeast by Abobo, and on the east by Gog; the Alwero River defines part of its northern boundary. The administrative center of this woreda is Ongogi.
Itang is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Because Itang is not part of any Zone in the Gambela Region, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. It is bordered on the south and southeast by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Nuer Zone, on the northwest by South Sudan, and on the north by the Oromia Region; part of the southern boundary is defined by the Alwero River. The major town in Itang is Itang.
Gambela Zuria is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Gambela Zuria is bordered on the south by Abobo, on the west by Itang special woreda, and on the north and east by the Oromia Region. Gambela, which is the capital of the Region, is surrounded by this woreda.
Akobo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the Akobo River, which flows westwards then north into the Baro River, defining its border with South Sudan. Part of the Nuer Zone, Akobo is bordered on the south and west by South Sudan, on the north by Wentawo, and on the east by the Anuak Zone. The westernmost point of this woreda is the westernmost point of Ethiopia. Towns in Akobo include Tergol.
Jikawo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Jikawo is bordered on the south by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Alwero River which separates it from Wentawo, on the north by the Baro River which separates it from South Sudan, and on the east by Lare. Towns in Jikawo include Nginngang and Telut.
Bure is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Bure is bordered on the south by Nono, on the southwest by the Gambela Region, on the west by the Kelem Welega Zone, on the northeast by Metu, and on the southeast by Ale; the Birbir River defines the west and north boundaries. Towns in Bure include Bure and Sibo. Huka Halu woreda was separated from Bure.
Itang is a town in the Gambela Region in western Ethiopia. Within Gambela, Itang belongs to Itang woreda which forms a special woreda. Located on the Baro River, this town has a latitude and longitude of 08°12′N 34°16′E with an elevation of 480 meters above sea level.
Dimma is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Dimma is bordered on the southeast by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the southwest by the Akobo River which separates it from South Sudan, on the north by Gog (woreda), and on the northeast by the Mezhenger Zone. The major town in Dimma is Dimma.
Lare is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Lare is bordered on the south and east by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Baro River which separates it from Jikawo, and on the north by the Jikawo River which separates it from South Sudan. Towns in Lare include Kowerneng.
Wentawo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Wentawo is bordered on the south by Akobo, on the west and north by South Sudan, on the east by Jikawo, and on the southeast by Anuak Zone; the Akobo River to the west and the Baro River on the north define Wentawo's boundaries with South Sudan. Towns in this woreda include Metar.
The Mezhenger Zone is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela; it is named for one of the three largest indigenous groups in Gambela, the Majangir. This zone is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the west by the Anuak Zone, and on the north by the Oromia Region. Towns in this Zone include Meti.
Anuak is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. It was created from former Administrative Zone 1 and Administrative Zone 2 of Gambela. This zone is bordered on the southwest by South Sudan, on southeast by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the east by Mezhenger Zone, on the northeast by the Oromia Region, and on the northwest by South Sudan and Nuer Zone. Towns in this zone include Gambela, Abobo and Fugnido.
Nuer is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. It was created from former Administrative Zone 3 of Gambela. This zone is bordered by South Sudan on the south, west and north, by Mezhenger Zone on the east and by Anuak Zone on the southeast; the Pibor defines the border on the south and west, while the Baro defines it for the northern border. Towns in this zone include Tirgol, Matar, Nyinenyang, Kuachthiang and Kuergeng. Nuer Zone consists of four woredas: Akobo, Jikawo, Lare, and Wentawo.
