Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 250,727, of whom 126,959 are men and 123,768 women; 11,588 or 4.62% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Protestants, with 92.8% of the population reporting that belief, 2.67% were Muslim, and 1.89% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. [2]
In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 186,343, of whom 94,823 were men and 91,520 women; 5,897 or 3.16% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Bensa were the Sidama (96.18%), the Amhara (2.2%), and the Oromo (0.96%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.66% of the population. Sidamo is spoken as a first language by 97.64% of the inhabitants, 1.46% speak Amharic, and 0.77% Oromiffa; the remaining 0.13% spoke all other primary languages reported. 77.76% of the population said they were Protestants, 7.59% observed traditional religions, 5.58% were Muslim, 3.21% were Ethiopian Orthodox, and 2.51% were Catholic. [3] Concerning education, 18.18% of the population were considered literate; 6.96% of children aged 7–12 were in primary school; 1.70% of the children aged 13–14 were in junior secondary school; and 0.93% of the inhabitants aged 15–18 were in senior secondary school. Concerning sanitary conditions, about 62.36% of the urban houses and 13.61% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census, while about 65.72% of the urban and 5.1% of the total had toilet facilities. [4]
Gedeo is a zone in the South Ethiopia Regional State (SERS) of Ethiopia. This zone is named for the Gedeo people, whose homelands lie in this zone. Gedeo is an exclave of the SERS consisting of a narrow strip of land along the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian Highlands. It is surrounded by the Oromia Region, which borders the Zone on the east, south and west; Gedeo shares its northern boundary with the Sidama Region. Dilla is the administrative center; other towns include Dilla, Wonago, Yirgachefe, Chelelekitu and Gedeb.
Burji Zone is one of the zones in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. In August 2023 Burji special Woreda got zonal status upon the formation of South Ethiopia Region. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Burji woreda and the 3 former special woredas surrounding it. It is named for the Burji people, who have their homeland in this zone. Burji is bordered on the east and south by the Oromia Region, on the west by the Konso Zone, and on the north by the Amaro Zone. The administrative center of Burji is Soyama.
Shebedino is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, 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.
Arbegona is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Arbegona is bordered on the south by Bona Zuria, on the southwest by Bursa, on the northwest by Gorche, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Bensa. The major town in Arbegona is Arbegona.
Dara is one of the woredas in the Sidama Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Region, Dara is bordered on the south by the Gedeo Zone and on either side of it by the Oromia Region, on the northwest by Chuko, on the north by Aleta Wendo, and on the northeast by Hula. Towns in Dara include Kebado, Teferi Kela Abera and Machisho.
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.
Aroresa is a woreda in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Located at the eastern tip of the Sidama Zone that extends into the Oromia Region like a peninsula, Aroresa is bordered on the south and southeast by that Region, on the northwest by Bensa, and on the north by Chere. The major town in Aroresa is Mejo. Chere woreda was separated from Aroresa.
Wenago is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gedeo Zone, Wenago is bordered on the southwest by Yirgachefe, on the northwest by the Oromia Region, on the northeast by Dila Zuria, and on the southeast by Bule. Towns in Wenago include Wenago. Dila Zuria woreda and Dila town were separated from Wenago.
Humbo is one of the woredas in the South Ethiopia Regional State of Ethiopia. It is a Part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Humbo is bordered on the southeast by Abala Abaya, on the south by the Gamo Zone, on the west by Offa, on the north by Sodo Zuria and Bayra Koysha. The administrative center of Humbo is Tebela.
Lalo Asabi is one of the 180 districts in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the West Welega Zone, Lalo Asabi is bordered on the south by Yubdo, on the west by Ayra Guliso, on the north by Boji, on the east by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and on the southeast by Gimbi. The administrative center of this woreda is Inango; other towns in Lalo Asabi include Dongoro.
Mesela is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Mesela is bordered on the southwest by the Galetti River which separates it from Chiro, on the northwest by Tulo, and on the east by the East Hararghe Zone. Towns in Mesela include Goro Reye and Mesela.
Sigmo is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This woreda shares the same name as its administrative center, Sigmo. Located in the western part of the Jimma Zone, Sigmo is bordered on the south by Gera, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the north by the Illubabor Zone, and on the east by Setema.
Akaki is a woreda or district in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne, Akaki is bordered on the southwest by the Southwest Shewa Zone, on the west by Sebeta Hawas, on the northwest by Addis Ababa, on the north by the Bereh, and on the east by East Shewa Zone. The administrative center of this woreda is Dukem.
Munesa is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the Arsi Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Munesa is bordered on the south and west by the West Arsi Zone and Lake Langano, on the northwest by Batu Dugda, on the north by Tiyo, on the northeast by Digeluna Tijo, and on the east by Bekoji. The administrative center of the woreda is Kersa; other towns in Munesa include Ego.
Malka Balo is a Districts of Ethiopia in Oromia, Ethiopia. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Malka Balo is bordered on the west by the West Hararghe Zone, on the north by Deder, on the northeast by Bedeno, and on the southeast by Gola Odana Meyumuluke; part of the boundary with the West Hararghe Zone is defined by the Galetti River. The administrative center for this woreda is Jaja; other towns include Bareda,Harawacha and Harew.
Kokosa is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Being part of the West Arsi Zone, Kokosa is bordered on the south and west by the Sidama Region, on the north by the Kofele, on the northeast by Dodola, and on the southeast by Nensebo. The administrative center of this woreda is Kokosa; other towns include Diki, Gata, BokoreHebano, Hogiso.
Goba is a woreda in the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is named after the town of Goba. Part of the Bale Zone, Goba is bordered on the south by Mennana Harena Buluk, on the west by Mirab Arsi Zone, on the north by the Mena River which separates it from Sinanana Dinsho, and on the southeast by Berbere.
Nensebo is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the West Arsi Zone, Nensebo is bordered on the south by the Borena Zone, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the northwest by Kokosa, on the north by Dodola, on the northeast by Adaba, on the east by Bale Zone. Towns in Nensebo include Werka.
Chere is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone Chere is bordered on the south by Aroresa, on the west by Bensa, and on the north and east by the Oromia Region. Chere was separated from Aroresa woreda.
Bona Zuria is one of the woredas in the Sidama National Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the Sidama Zone, Bona Zuria is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by Hula, on the northwest by Bursa, on the north by Arbegona, and on the east by Bensa. The major town in Bona Zuria is Bona. Bona Zuria was separated from Arbegona woreda.
