Ethiopia - LIDC Case Study - Changing Economic Development

• Ethiopia is an LIDC located in East Africa
• Ethiopia is a landlocked country, meaning it is surrounded by other countries and has no access to sea
• Ethiopia borders countries like Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea
• The closest bodies of water to Ethiopia are the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean
• The capital city of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa
• Cental Ethiopia has a hilly landscape
• The North and East border of Ethiopia have a desert landscape: Danaleil Desert (North) and Ogaden Desert (East)
• Ethiopia suffers from internal conflict. The country is split into 9 ethnic based regions
• There are border/land disputes between Ethiopia and neighbouring countries
• Ethiopia avoided European colonisation - Pros:

  • it maintained its cultural heritage and traditions without interference e.g. languages, religion
  • its independence remained undisturbed, meaning it can develop its own political and economic systems for its own needs and values
  • its national identity is strong - unity and pride in their achievements
  • they control their own resources for their own needs rather than for higher powers
• Ethiopia avoided Europian colonisation - Cons:

  • missed development opportunities e.g. infrastructure, technology, economic
  • limited international influence - potential struggle to establish themselves politically and economically
  • slower modernisation - healthcare, education etc. colonisation could've accelerated the process of development
• Ethiopia is the 2nd most populated country in Africa
• Ethiopia has a population of 94 million as of 2016, and 120 million people as of 2021
• The Derg Government controlled Ethiopia, causing conflict and unrest
• There is high biodiversity in Ethiopia
• Ethiopia is sat on a tectonic plate line, this splits the country. They have geothermic activity - volcanoes
• Ethiopia contains the Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile
• The East of Ethiopia experiences a hot climate, whereas the West experiences a cold climate (mountainous terrain)
• The USA and China invest the most aid into Ethiopia

  • USA - gives the most aid
  • China - the biggest importer
• Djibouti [Ethiopia's closest port] plays a crucial part in Ethiopia's trade, and therefore their economy
• The highlands in Ethiopia are up to 4500m high
• The lowlands of Ethiopia have fertile soil, perfect for farming
• Central and Western Ethiopia are more likely to be less developed due to

  • steep landscape - more difficult to farm animals and food
  • natural hazards - earthquakes, volcanoes, steep landscape
  • difficult to urbanise due to mountainous landscape
• Eastern Ethiopia will be easier to develop due to

  • lowlands - easier transportation for people and animals and food
  • lowlands - easier to build on, therefore population will be higher
  • more fertile soil - easier to farm
• Ethiopia's Natural Resources

  • small reserves of minerals - gold, platinum, copper...
  • larger reserves of oil and gas
  • one large-scale gold mine in operation - looking into opening more for oil and gas
  • needs to be managed sustainably to have a positive impact on economic and social development of Ethiopia
• Gold mining makes up 19% of Ethiopia's export value (2012)

  • one major gold mine
  • more planned for future, benefitting the economy
• The larger reserves of oil and gas haven't been explored fully. If it is found to be cost-effective, it will be exploited to provide cheap energy for Ethiopia itself and to sell to others.

  • requires lots of infrastructure and funding that Ethiopia may need assistance from other countries to set up (e.g. China)