Afar Region ዓፋር ክልል Qafar Rakaakaya | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
 Map ofEthiopia showing Afar Region | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Established | 1992 |
| Capital | Semera (Samara) |
| Government | |
| • Chief Administrator | Awol Arba |
| Area | |
• Total | 72,053 km2 (27,820 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 4th |
| [1] | |
| Population (2025) | |
• Total | 4,576,000[2] |
| • Rank | 8th |
| • Density | 63.51/km2 (164.5/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Afars |
| ISO 3166 code | ET-AF |
| HDI (2021) | 0.440[3] low ·11th of 11 |
TheAfar Region (/ˈɑːfɑːr/;Afar:Qafar Rakaakayak;Amharic:ዓፋር ክልል), formerly known asRegion 2, is aregional state in northeasternEthiopia and the homeland of theAfar people. Its capital is the planned city ofSemera, which lies on the pavedAwash–Assab highway. It is bordered byEritrea to the north andDjibouti to the northeast; it also shares regional borders with theTigray,Amhara,Oromo andSomali regions.
TheAfar Triangle, the northern part of which is theDanakil Depression, is part of theGreat Rift Valley of Ethiopia, and is located in the north of the region. It has the lowest point in Ethiopia and one of the lowest in Africa. The southern part of the region consists of the valley of theAwash River, which empties into a string of lakes along theDjibouti–Ethiopia border. Other notable landmarks include theAwash National Park.
Afar Region is a developing region of Ethiopia with a high rate of fertility.[3]
Based on the 2017 projections by theCentral Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), the Afar Regional State has a population of 3,420,002, consisting of 1,799,000 men and 1,621,002 women; urban inhabitants number 846,000 of the population, a further 2,566,000 were pastoralists.[4]
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by theCentral Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), the Afar Regional State has a population of 1,890,273,[5] consisting of 1,075,117 men and 815,156 women; urban inhabitants number 249,535 or 13.32% of the population, a further 556,123 or 29.43% werepastoralists. With an estimated area of 96,707 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 14.38 people per square kilometer. For the entire region 297,255 households were counted, which results in an average for the Region of 5.6 persons to a household, with urban households having on average 4 and rural households 6 people.
| Ethnic Group | 2007 Census[6] | 1994 Census[7] |
|---|---|---|
| Afar | 90.03% | 91.8% |
| Somali | 5.22% | 4.5% |
| Argobba | 1.55% | 0.9% |
| Tigrayan | 1.15% | 0.8% |
| Amhara | 0.61% | 0.8% |
| Welayta | 0.59% | 0.5% |
| Hadiya | 0.18% | 0.2% |
| Religion | 2007 Census[6] | 1994 Census[7] |
|---|---|---|
| Muslim | 96% | 95.6% |
| Christian | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Orthodox | 3.86% | 3.9% |
| P'ent'ay | 0% | 0% |
| Catholics | 0.09% | 0.1% |
In the previous census, conducted in 1994, the region's population was reported to be 1,106,383 of which 626,839 were men and 479,544 women; urban inhabitants were 85,879 or 7.76% of the population.
Afar is predominantly (89.96%) spoken in the region and is the working language of the state. Other languages with a significant number of speakers in the state includeAmharic (6.83%),Tigrinya (1.06%),Argobba (0.79%),Wolaitta (0.43%), andOromifa (0.4%).
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According to the CSA, as of 2004[update], 48.57% of the total population had access tosafe drinking water, of whom 26.89% were rural inhabitants and 78.11% were urban.[9] Values for other reported common indicators of thestandard of living for the Afar Regional State as of 2005[update] include the following: 67.3% of the inhabitants fall into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men is 27% and for women 15.6%; and the regionalinfant mortality rate is 61 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which is less than the nationwide average of 77; at least half of these deaths occurred in the infants' first month of life.[10] On 20 April 2007, the regional government announced that it had increased health coverage from 34% to 40%, the result of construction of 64 new health clinics, increasing the total for the region to 111.[11]
Afar Depression,Erta Ale active volcano,Awash National Park,Yangudi Rassa National Park,Hadar andAramis areas, are the major tourist attraction area of the region. The hot springs, Afar culture and cultural games are other attraction areas.
In 2005, a giantrift was formed in just a few days.[12][13] The rift opened when theDabbahu Volcano, situated in the north of the region, erupted. The crack forming is thought to be part of the process in which theArabian Plate, the Nubian Plate, and the Somali Plate, are moving apart. This new crack, 500 metres (1,640 ft) long, and 60 metres (197 ft) deep, opened when thelava from the eruptingvolcano flowed underground and cooled forming a 60 kilometres (37 mi) long, 8 metres (26 ft) widedike within days.
TheAfar Depression, a plate tectonic triple junction, is found in the Afar Regional State. This geologic feature is one of Earth's great active volcanic areas. Due to this volcanic activity the floor of the depression is composed of lava, mostly basalt.
The continuous process of volcanism results in the occurrence of majorminerals, includingpotash,sulfur,salt,bentonite andgypsum. In addition to these minerals, there are also promisinggeothermal energy sources andhot springs in different areas of the region. Most of the region's mineral potential are found inDallol,Berhale andAfderaworedas of Zone Two.Elidar,Dubti andMillee in Zone One, andGewane in Zone Three, also have some mineral possibilities.
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Afar is home to peculiar wildlife, which notably include theAfrican wild ass,Grevy's zebra, wild fox, wild cat, cheetah, and ostrich. These wild animals are found in the region's national parks. Because the region's tourism development is still in a poor state there are only two lodges inAwash National Park. It has many volcanoes, likeErta Ale.
The CSA estimated in 2005 that farmers in the Afar Regional State had a total of 327,370 cattle (representing 0.84% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 196,390 sheep (1.13%), 483,780 goats (3.73%), 200 mules (0.14%), 12,270 asses (0.49%), 99,830 camels (21.85%), 38,320 poultry of all species (0.12%), and 810 beehives (less than 0.1%). The CSA estimated on the basis of a survey performed in December 2003 that nomadic inhabitants had 1,990,850 cattle (an 83.8% share of those animals in the region that year), 2,303,250 sheep (90.6%), 3,960,510 goats (90%), 759,750 camels (85.9%), 175,180 asses (92.5%), 2960 mules (88.6%), and 900 horses (100%).[14]
As of 2012[update], the area has been increasingly unstable, as tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea remain high after theEritrean–Ethiopian War of 1998 to 2000. On 18 January 2012, five foreign tourists were murdered while on holiday in the region.[15] The Ethiopian government has accused Eritrean gunmen of being responsible for the attack. Many governments around the world advise against traveling to the Afar region, citing increasing security concerns.
Additionally, this region is also a hub forAfar–Somali clashes, due to many kebeles being put into the Afar region by the government.[16] These include key towns like Gadamaytu, Undufo and Adaytu where battles between the Afar region and Somali region militaries happen.[17] These conflicts have had many losses,[18] and have led to the south-eastern parts of the region being an unstable zone.[19]
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Hadar, a community in Afar, was the site of the discovery in 1973–1974 of "Lucy", theAustralopithecus afarensis skeletal remains, byDonald Johanson of theCleveland Museum of Natural History. On 5 March 2005, another skeleton, estimated to be 3.8 million years old and said to be the world's oldestbipedalhominidskeleton, was found in the region.Yohannes Haile-Selassie led digs there each year from 2004 to 2007.
On 24 March 2006, it was reported that a "significantly complete"cranium had been found at Gawis in the Gona area.[20] The cranium appears as anintermediate form betweenHomo erectus andHomo sapiens.
On 1 October 2009, scientists reported that they had found a skeleton, which dates to around 4.4 million years ago. NamedArdi, it is a form of the speciesArdipithecus ramidus. The specimen is a distant cousin of theAustralopithecus afarensis, Lucy's species.
In June 2010, the oldest direct evidence of stone tool manufacture was found in the Afar region and attributed toAustralopithecus afarensis.[21][22]
In 2013, a graduate student from theArizona State University discovered a hominid jawbone in theLedi-Geraru region of Afar. Scientists estimated that the fossil dates to around 2.8 million years ago, which is 400,000 years before the next oldest hominid fossil remains.[23]
In 2015, a hominin jawbone and teeth was discovered in the Afar region. Scientists believe that the bones belonged to a previously undiscovered ancestor. The new species was namedAustralopithecus deyiremeda, meaning "close relative" in the native Afar language. The species lived around 3.5–3.3 million years ago, about the same time period as other hominins such asAustralopithecus afarensis.[24]
Source:[25]
Like other regions in Ethiopia, Afar Region is subdivided into administrative zones, in case of Afar, into six zones (and one specialworeda, an administrative subdivision which is administering under Gabi Rasu (South Zone)/(Zone 3).
There are 47 towns in the Afar Region.
| Town | Population 2007[6] | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Abala | 10,301 | Kilbatti Rasu |
| Adkuwa | 1,757 | Kilbatti Rasu |
| Afambo | 822 | Awsi Rasu |
| Afdera | 3,578 | Kilbatti Rasu |
| Alele Sulula | 1,237 | Fanti Rasu |
| Alelo | 1,838 | Fanti Rasu |
| Andido | 546 | Gabi Rasu |
| Asayta | 16,052 | Awsi Rasu |
| Awash | 14,880 | Gabi Rasu |
| Awash Arba | 5,043 | Gabi Rasu |
| Awash Sheleko | 5,629 | Gabi Rasu |
| Berahile | 6,098 | Kilbatti Rasu |
| Berta | 350 | Gabi Rasu |
| Bure | 1,227 | Awsi Rasu |
| Chiefera | 9,132 | Awsi Rasu |
| Dalifagi | 4,979 | Hari Rasu |
| Date Bahri | 1,562 | Awsi Rasu |
| Derayitu | 1,651 | Fanti Rasu |
| Dichoto | 2,327 | Awsi Rasu |
| Dobi | 1,596 | Awsi Rasu |
| Dubti | 14,715 | Awsi Rasu |
| Dulecha | 1,190 | Gabi Rasu |
| Elidar | 1,639 | Awsi Rasu |
| Eliwuha | 5,390 | Awsi Rasu |
| Gachine | 2,166 | Gabi Rasu |
| Galafi | 580 | Awsi Rasu |
| Gebdora | 790 | Fanti Rasu |
| Gewane | 5,986 | Gabi Rasu |
| Hadeleala | 2,119 | Hari Rasu |
| Keliwan | 3,925 | Fanti Rasu |
| Kifil Sost | 1,330 | Gabi Rasu |
| Konaba | 3,031 | Kilbatti Rasu |
| Kumame | 935 | Hari Rasu |
| Lakora | 749 | Kilbatti Rasu |
| Lile | 703 | Kilbatti Rasu |
| Logiya | 14,038 | Awsi Rasu |
| Manda | 1,654 | Awsi Rasu |
| Melka Sedi | 5,492 | Gabi Rasu |
| Melka Werer | 7,817 | Gabi Rasu |
| Mile | 8,818 | Awsi Rasu |
| Namelafen | 1,950 | Hari Rasu |
| Sa'ala | 558 | Awsi Rasu |
| Sabure | 1,969 | Gabi Rasu |
| Samera | 2,625 | Awsi Rasu |
| Serkam | 1,930 | Gabi Rasu |
| Wedarage | 2,280 | Hari Rasu |
| Wuha Limat | 151 | Awsi Rasu |
| Regions | |
|---|---|
| Chartered cities | |
| Topics | |
| Awsi Rasu (Zone 1) | |
|---|---|
| Kilbet Rasu (Zone 2) | |
| Gabi Rasu (Zone 3) | |
| Fantí Rasu (Zone 4) | |
| Hari Rasu (Zone 5) | |
| Special woredas | |
11°49′N41°25′E / 11.817°N 41.417°E /11.817; 41.417
| International | |
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| Other | |
