Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 164,529, of whom 82,199 are men and 82,330 women; none of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 53.91% of the population reporting that belief, 29.31% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 12.6% practiced traditional beliefs. [4]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 153,550 of whom 78,158 were men and 75,392 were women; 40,020 or 26.06% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in Arba Minch Zuria were the Gamo (69.53%), the Amhara (7.94%), the Welayta (6.75%), the Zayse (6.02%), and the Oromo (3.64%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.28% of the population. Gamo is spoken as a first language by 65.77%, 16.97% Amharic, 5.93% Zergula, 5.13% Welayta, and 2.46% spoke Oromiffa; the remaining 3.74% spoke all other primary languages reported. [5]
The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region is a regional state in southwestern Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of five kililoch, called Regions 7 to 11, following the regional council elections on 21 June 1992. Its government is based in Hawassa.
Arba Minch is a city and separate woreda in southern Ethiopia. "Arba Minch" means "40 Springs" the name was originated from the presence of more than 40 springs. It was located in the Gamo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region about 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, at an elevation of 1285 meters above sea level. It is the largest town in Gamo Zone and the second town in SNNPR next to Awassa. It is surrounded by Arba Minch Zuria woreda. This Town has plenty of natural gifts including the bridge given by God, crocodile market, different fruits and vegetables, different fishes farmed from Chamo and Abaya Lakes, more than 40 springs, different cereals, and crops, surprisingly having the two big Lakes Abaya and Chamo, respectively, next to Lake Tana, etc. This makes the town an attraction for domestic and international tourism.
North Omo Zone was a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It was named after the Omo River, which flows in the western area of the former zone. In 2000 it was split into three zones: Dawro, Gamo Gofa, and Wolayita; and Basketo and Konta became special woredas.
Damot Weyde is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Damot Weyde is bordered on the south by Humbo, on the west by Sodo Zuria, on the northwest by Damot Gale, on the north by Diguna Fango, and on the north east by the Diguna Fango. The administrative center of the woreda is Bedessa. Diguna Fango woreda was separated from Damot Weyde.
Damot Gale is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Damot Gale is bordered on the southwest by Sodo Zuria, on the northwest by Boloso Sore and Damot Pulasa, on the north by the Hadiya Zone, on the east by Diguna Fango, and on the southeast by Damot Weyde. The administrative center of Damot Gale is Boditi. Damot Pulasa woreda was separated from Damot Gale.
Shebedino is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Shebedino is bordered on the south by Dale, on the west by Boricha, on the north by Awasa Zuria, on the east by Gorche, and on the southeast by Wensho. Towns in Shebedino include Leku. Boricha and Gorche woredas were separated from Shebedino woreda.
'Dale is a woreda ' Region of [[ Part of the Sidama region located in the Great Rift Valley, Dale is bordered on the south by Aleta Wendo and Chuko, on the west by Loko Abaya, on the northwest by Boricha, on the north by Shebedino, and on the east by Wensho. The major town in Dale is Irgalem, Irgalem. Parts of Dale woreda were separated to create Loko Abaya and Wensho woredas.
Hula is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Hula is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by Dara, on the northwest by Aleta Wendo, on the north by Bursa, and on the east by Bona Zuria. The major town in Hula is Hagere Selam. Woredas of Bursa and Bona Zuria were separated from Hula.
Sodo Zuria is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Sodo Zuria is bordered on the southwest by Offa, on the west by Kindo Koysha, on the northwest by Damot Sore, on the north by Boloso Sore, on the northeast by Damot Gale, on the east by Damot Weyde, and on the southeast by Humbo. Town of Sodo was separated from Sodo woreda.
Kindo Koysha is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Kindo Koysha is bordered on the south by Offa, on the southwest by Kindo Didaye, on the west by the Dawro Zone, on the north by Boloso Bombe, on the west by Damot Sore, and on the southeast by Sodo Zuria. The administrative center of Kindo Koysha is Bele Town. Kindo Didaye woreda was separated from Kindo Koysha.
Basketo is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia, named after its inhabitants, the Basketo people. Because Basketo is not part of any administrative Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a special woreda—an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area.
Offa is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Offa is bordered on the south by the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by Kindo Didaye, on the north by Kindo Koysha, on the northeast by Sodo Zuria, and on the east by Humbo. The administrative center of Offa is Gesuba. Western part of Offa was added to Kindo Didaye woreda.
Humbo is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Humbo is bordered on the southeast by Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region, on the south by the Gamo Gofa Zone, on the west by Offa, on the northwest by Sodo Zuria, on the northeast by Damot Weyde, and on the east by the Bilate River which separates it from the Sidama Zone. The administrative center of Humbo is Tebela.
Boreda Abaya was one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Omo Zone, Boreda Abaya was bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the southwest by Chencha, on the west by Kucha, on the north by Humbo, and on the east by Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region. Aruro Island, the largest island in Lake Abaya, was administratively part of this woreda. Towns in Boreda Abaya included Birbir and Zefene. Boreda Abaya was separated for Boreda and Mirab Abaya woredas.
Chencha is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Zone, Chencha is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria, on the west by Dita,&Gofa on the north by Kucha and Boreda, and on the east by Mirab Abaya. Towns in Chencha include Chencha, Dorze, Dokko and Ezo.
Kemba is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Kemba is bordered on the southwest by the Debub Omo Zone, on the west by Uba Debretsehay, on the northwest by Zala, on the northeast by Deramalo, on the east by Bonke, and on the southeast by the Dirashe special woreda; the Weito River defines the boundary with Bonke and Dirashe. The major town in this woreda is Kemba.
Bonke is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Bonke is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda, on the west by the Weito River which separates it from Kemba, on the northwest by Deramalo, on the north by Dita, and on the east by Arba Minch Zuria. The major town in Bonke is Gerese.
Gaamo Zone is a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named for whose homelands lie in this Zone and identifacation of strength,respect. Gamo is bordered on the south by the Dirashe special woreda, on the southwest by Debub (South) Omo and the Basketo special woreda, on the northwest by Konta special woreda, on the north by Dawro and Wolayita, on the northeast by the Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by the Amaro special woreda. The administrative center of Gamo is Arba Minch.
Mirab Abaya is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Mirab Abaya is bordered on the east and south by Lake Abaya which separates it from the Oromia Region on the east and Arba Minch Zuria on the south, on the west by Chencha, on the northwest by Borena, and on the north by the Wolayita Zone. Towns in Mirab Abaya include Birbir. Mirab Abaya was part of former Boreda Abaya woreda.
Dita is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gamo Gofa Zone, Dita is bordered on the south by Arba Minch Zuria and Bonke, on the west by Deramalo, on the north by Kucha, and on the east by Chencha. Towns in Dita include Zeda. Dita was part of former Dita Dermalo woreda.
