About Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR)

Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR) is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Its capital is Awasa, around 270km south of Addis.

Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA) published in 2005, the SNNPR has an estimated total population of 14,901,990, consisting of 7,408,993 men and 7,492,997 women. 13,625,000 or 91.4% of the population are estimated to be rural inhabitants, while 1,277,000 or 8.57% are urban; this makes the SNNPR Ethiopia's most rural region. With an estimated area of 112,343.19 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 132.65 people per square kilometer.

These estimates are based on the 1994 census, in which the region's total population was reported to be 10,377,028 of which 5,161,787 were males and 5,215,241 were females. At the time of the census, the rural population of the Region accounted for 93.2% of the total population. Semien Omo, Sidama, and Gurage were the three zones with the highest population. The population is concentrated mostly in eastern, northern and central part of the SNNPR while the western and southern part of the Region is sparsely populated.

The SNNPR Water Resources Bureau announced that as of the fiscal year ending in 2006, they had increased the area of the Region that had access to potable water to 54% from 10-15% 15 years ago. 60 million Birr has been allocated for the next fiscal year to bring coverage to an additional 34 woredas and 21 towns, increasing coverage to 59% of the population.

Ethnicities

The SNNPR, being an amalgam of the main homelands of numerous ethnicities, contains over 45 indigenous ethnic groups. The 1994 census reported that the predominantly spoken languages include Sidamigna (18%), Guragigna (14.72%), Welayta (11.53%), Hadiyigna (8.53%), Keffigna (5.22%), and Kembatigna (4.35%). Other languages spoken in the State include Gamoigna, Mello, Goffa, and Gedeo; because of the relatively few number of speakers of most of the languages in the region, the working language of the state is Amharic (the most widely spoken language in Ethiopia and formerly the only official language).

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Regional HIV/AIDS Profile

Total Prevalence: 2.3%
Rural 1.5% Urban 10.2%
Prevalence (15-49 age) : 1.5%
(Source: AIDS in Ethiopia 6th Report)

AIDS Patients- 20,628, in 2001
Male female Ratio 1:07
Mean Age 24.9

Estimates:
Orphans – 258,100, in 2018
PLWHs - 409, 700 , in 2018
AIDS Patients - 42,000, in 2018

Area – 118,881 sq. km (10% of national land mass)
Population – 13.6million (about 20% national total)
87% rural

Pop. Density- 540people/sq.km – 7 people/sq.km

Boundaries – Kenya - Sudan - Oromia – Gambela

Adm. Regions – 13 Zones & 8 Special Weredas
(104 Weredas + City/Town Adm.)

Culture – Diversified languages, cultures, life styles, etc
- Polygamy, Early/Forced marriage,
Multiple Sexual partners, Other HTP
- Mobile Labour, Internal & External Migration

Economy - Mainly Agro Economy
Cash crops, Plantations, Mining, Factories, Construction
Deep Rooted Poverty, poor economic access of women

Health coverage 49%
Lack of access to health care, HTPs
- High infant mortality, low life expectancy
- High Fertility, low contraceptive and low condom use

Education coverage 48%