The spatial pattern of the Ethiopian population

Abstract

This study deals essentially with the pattern of distribution of Ethiopian population as a phenomenon resulting from centuries of dynamic changes in accordance with changes in historical and economic realities and in environmental possibilities. Thus, the dissertation seeks to link past events with and considers them as determinants of present rural and urban population pattern and the spatial aspects of ethnic, religious and linguistic groups and of types of activity. Ethnic complexity, the very peculiar altitudinal pattern of settlements, under-urbanization, urban primacy and the hierarchy of towns, economic and social backwardness, diverse environmental conditions and uneven resource distribution that in turn influence the spatial pattern of population distribution constitute the main topics of analysis. Although owing to the absence of genuine information on past events and up-to-date population data, this work may lack demographic profundity, it is an initial statement that will hopefully throw much light on the geography of the Ethiopian population. Moreover, it will serve as an indicator of other possible approaches to studying the spatial and other aspects of Ethiopian population.