Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 143,929, of whom 70,585 are men and 73,344 are women; 6,799 or 4.72% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 14.1%. With an estimated area of 8,332.84 square kilometers, Sanja has an estimated population density of 17.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 60.23. [1]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 105,751 in 20,428 households, of whom 54,405 were men and 51,346 women; 3,891 or 3.68% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Sanja were the Amhara (96.89%), and the Tigrayan (2.68%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.43% of the population. Amharic was spoken as a first language by 96.61%, and 3.21% spoke Tigrinya; the remaining 0.18% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.66% embracing that faith, while 1.25% of the population said they were Muslim. [2]
Amharas also known as Abyssinians, are an ethnic group traditionally inhabiting the northern and central highlands of Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa and the Amhara Region. According to the 2007 national census, Amharas numbered 19,867,817 individuals, comprising 26.9% of Ethiopia's population. They are also found within the Ethiopian expatriate community, particularly in North America. They speak Amharic, an Afro-Asiatic language of the Semitic branch, a member of the Ethiosemitic group, which serves as the official language of Ethiopia.
Tigrinya, often written as Tigrigna is an Afro-Asiatic language, belonging to the family's Semitic branch. It is spoken by ethnic Tigray-Tigrinya in the Horn of Africa. Tigrinya speakers primarily inhabit the Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia (6.1%), where its speakers are called Tigrawot, as well as the contiguous borders of southern and central Eritrea (57%), where speakers are known as the Bihere-Tigrinya. Tigrinya is also spoken by groups of emigrants from these regions, including some Beta Israel.
Islam is the second largest religion in Ethiopia with over 33.9% of the population practicing it in 2007. The faith arrived in Ethiopia at an early date, shortly before the hijira. Islam is the religion of the overwhelming majority of the Somali, Afar, Argobba, Harari, Berta, Alaba, and Silt'e and also has many adherents among the Gurage and the Oromo, the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, as well as a minority of Amhara, the second largest ethnic group in the country.
Lay Armachiho is one of the woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after "Armachiho", a province in northwestern Ethiopia along the border with Sudan and south of the Tekezé River. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Lay Armachiho is bordered on the south by Dembiya, on the west by Chilga, on the north by Tach Armachiho, on the east by Wegera, and on the southeast by Gondar Zuria. The administrative center of this woreda is Tekle Dingay.
Gondar Zuria is a woreda in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Gondar Zone, Gondar Zuria is bordered on the south by the Debub Gondar Zone, on the southwest by Lake Tana, on the west by Dembiya, on the north by Lay Armachiho, on the northeast by Wegera, and on the southeast by Mirab Belessa. Towns in Gondar Zuria include Azazo, Degoma, Emfraz, Maksenit and Teda. The city and woreda of Gondar is surrounded by Gondar Zuria in the northern part of this woreda.
Angolalla Terana Asagirt was one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. It is named in part after one of the capitals of the former principality of Shewa, Angolalla. Located at the eastern edge of the Ethiopian highlands in the Semien Shewa Zone, Angolalla Terana Asagirt was bordered on the southwest by Hagere Mariamna Kesem, on the west by the Oromia Region, on the north by Basona Werana, on the northeast by Ankober, and on the southeast by Berehet. Angolalla Terana Asagirt was divided for Angolalla Tera and Asagirt woredas.
Hagere Mariamna Kesem is one of the woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Hagere Mariamna Kesem is bordered on the south by the Germama river which separates it from Menjarna Shenkora, on the west by the Oromia Region, on the north by Angolalla Tera, on northeast by Asagirt, and on the east by Berehet. The administrative center of this woreda is Shola Gebeya; other towns include Kese Koremash.
Bure Wemberma was one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Its name was created from a combination of its largest town, Bure, and the historic district of Wemberma, which lay north of the Abay River between its tributaries the Zingini and Fatam. Part of the Mirab Gojjam Zone, Bure Wemberma was bordered on the south by the Abay River which separated it from the Oromia Region, on the west by the Agew Awi Zone, on the north by Sekela, on the northeast by Jabi Tehnan, on the east by Dembecha, and on the southeast by the Misraq Gojjam Zone. Other towns in Bure Wemberma included Shendi. Bure Wembera was divided for Bure and Wemberma woredas.
Dangila is one of the woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after the former district, Dangila, which James Bruce notes was in his day known for its breed of sheep. Part of the Agew Awi Zone, Dangila is bordered on the south by Faggeta Lekoma, on the southwest by Guangua, on the northwest by the Jawi, and on the northeast by the Mirab Gojjam Zone. Towns in Dangila include Addis Alem, Dangila and Dek. Part of the Dangila was separated to create Jawi woreda.
Faggeta Lekoma is one of the woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. The woreda is named in part after two former districts: Faggeta, best known as the location for the Battle of Faggeta, where Ras Mikael Sehul with the help of Goshu of Amhara and Wand Bewossen defeated Fasil of Damot; and Lekoma, where Emperor Susenyos quashed a revolt of the local Agaw in 1614. Part of the Agew Awi Zone, Faggeta Lekoma is bordered on the south by Banja Shekudad, on the west by Guangua, on the north by Dangila, and on the east by the Mirab Gojjam Zone. Towns in Faggeta Lekoma include Addis Kidame and Faggeta.
Chefe Golana Dewerahmedo was one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Oromia Zone, Chefe Golana Dewerahmedo was bordered on the south by Artuma Fursina Jile, on the southwest by the Semien Shewa Zone, on the west by the Debub Wollo Zone, on the north by Bati, and on the east by the Afar Region. Towns in Chefe Golana Dewerahmedo included Bora and Kemise; the villages of Shonke and T’ollaha were also located in this woreda, and notable as being communities where the Argobba language is spoken. Chefe Golana Dewerahmedo was divided for Dawa Chefe and Dawa Harewa woredas and Kemise town.
Artuma Fursina Jile was one of the 105 woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Oromia Zone, Artuma Fursina Jile was bordered on the west by the Semien Shewa Zone, on the north by Chefe Golana Dewerahmedo, and on the east by the Afar Region. Towns in Artuma Fursina Jile included Adebela, Chefa Robit, Kichicho and Senbete. Artuma Fursina Jile was divided for Artuma Fursi and Jile Timuga woredas.
Chora is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Chora is bordered on the south by the Jimma Zone, on the west by Yayu, on the northwest by Supena Sodo, on the north by Dega, and on the east by Bedele. The major town in Chora is Kumbabe.
Gechi is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Illubabor Zone, Gechi is bordered on the south by Didessa, on the east by the Jimma Zone, on the north by Bedele, and on the east by the Didessa River which separates it from the Jimma Zone. Gechi is the major town in Gechi. Borecha woreda was part of Gechi.
Elu is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Southwest Shewa Zone, Elu is bordered on the south by Becho, on the west by Dawo, on the north by West Shewa Zone, and on the east by the Awash which separates it from Alem Gena. Towns in Elu include Debre Genet and Tagi.
Boke is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mirab Hararghe Zone, Boke is bordered on the south by the Shabelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Darolebu, on the northwest by Habro, on the northeast by Kuni, and on the east by the Galetti River which separates it from the Misraq Hararghe Zone. The major town in Boke is Boke Tiko.
Wara Jarso is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Wara Jarso is bordered on the south by Kuyu, on the west by the Muger River which separates it from the Misraq Welega Zone, on the north by the Abay River which separates it from the Amhara Region, on the northeast by the Jamma River which separates it from Dera, and on the east by Hidabu Abote. Towns in Wara Jarso include Filiklik, Gohatsion and Tullu Milki.
Kuyu is one of the woredas in Oromiya Region of Ethiopia. Part of Semien Shewa Zone, Kuyu is bordered on the south and west by Muger River which separates it from Misraq Welega Zone, on the north by Wara Jarso, on the northeast by Hidabu Abote, and on the east by Degem. The administrative center of Kuyu is Gebre Guracha.
Kembibit is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Semien Shewa Zone, Kembibit is bordered on the south by Berehna Aleltu, on the west by Wuchalena Jido, on the north by Abichuna Gne'a, and on the east by the Amhara Region. The administrative center of this woreda is Sheno; other towns in Kembibit include Hamus Gebeya, and Kotu.
Dugda is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It was part of the former woreda of Dugda Bora what was divided between Bora and Dugda woredas. Part of the Misraq Shewa Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Dugda Bora is bordered on the southeast by Lake Zway, on the south by Adami Tullu and Jido Kombolcha, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the northwest by the Debub Mirab (Southwest) Shewa Zone, on the north by the Awash River which separates it from Ada'a Chukala, on the northeast by Koka Reservoir which separates it from Adama, and on the east by the Arsi Zone. The administrative center of Dugda is Meki.
Goro Gutu is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is named after Goro Gutu, its tallest mountain. Part of the Misraq (East) Hararghe Zone, Goro Gutu is bordered on the south by Deder, on the west by the Mirab (West) Hararghe Zone, on the north by the Somali Region, and on the east by Meta. The administrative center is Karamile; other towns include Boroda.
Kokosa is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Being part of the Mirab Arsi Zone, Kokosa is bordered on the south and west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples 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, Hebano, Hogiso.
