Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region

TheSouthern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region(often abbreviated asSNNPR;Amharic:የደቡብ ብሔር ብሔረሰቦችና ሕዝቦች ክልል,romanized:Yädäbub Bḥer Bḥeräsäbočna Hzboč Kllə) was aregional statein southwesternEthiopia.It was formed from the merger of fivekililoch,called Regions 7 to 11, following the regional council elections on 21 June 1992.Its government was based inHawassa.

Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region የደቡብ ብሔር ብሔረሰቦችና ሕዝቦች ክልል
Formerregional state
Flag Seal
Map ofEthiopiashowing Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (1992 to 2020 boundaries)
Coordinates:6.5°N 37.1°E/6.5; 37.1
Country	Ethiopia
Administrative headquarters	Hawassa
ISO 3166 code	ET-SN

The SNNPR borderedKenyato the south (including a small part ofLake Turkana), theIlemi Triangle(a region claimed by Kenya andSouth Sudan) to the southwest, Oromia region to the north and east. The capital city of the region wasHawassa.The region included major cities and towns likeWolaita Sodo,Arba Minch,Jinka,Dila,Boditi,Areka,Butajira,Welkite,Bonga,HosaenaandWorabe.

The region dissolved whenSidama Region,Southwest Ethiopia Region,South Ethiopia Regional StateandCentral Ethiopia Regional Stateemerged independently.

In June 2020, following the formation of theSidama Regionthe region's capitalHawassais located outside of the boundaries of the region. The then regional government planned to move to a city within the region's boundaries after two consecutive national electoral cycles.The largest cities in the region wereSodowith the population of 194,977 andArba Minchwith the population of 151,013.

The dissolution of the region was certain when on 18 August 2023 theSouth Ethiopia Regional Statewas created following the2023 South Ethiopia Region referendumwith remainder of the SNNPR becoming theCentral Ethiopia Regional State.

Demographics

Kambaatafamily in front of theirtukulin theKembata Tembaro Zone

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by theCentral Statistical Agencyof Ethiopia (CSA), the SNNPR regional state had an estimated total population of 14,929,548, of whom 7,425,918 were men and 7,503,630 women. 13,433,991 or 89.98% of the population are estimated to be rural inhabitants, while 1,495,557 or 10.02% are urban; this makes the SNNPR Ethiopia's most rural region. With an estimated area of 105,887.18 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 141 people per square kilometer. For the entire region 3,110,995 households were counted, which results in an average for the region of 4.8 persons to a household, with urban households having on average 3.9 and rural households 4.9 people.The projected population for 2017 was 19,170,007.

In the previous census, conducted in 1994, the region's population was reported to be 10,377,028 of whom 5,161,787 were men and 5,215,241 were women. At the time of the census, the rural population of the Region accounted for 93.2% of the total population.Semien Omo,Wolayita,andGuragewere 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 todrinkable waterto 54% from 10 to 15% 15 years ago.In August 2008, the head of public relations for the Bureau, Abdulkerim Nesru, announced that 94 million birr had been spent to further increase the availability of drinkable water in the region from 58% in the previous year to 63.6%. Priority was given to certain zones, such as Sidama, Welayta and Gurage, as well as theAlaba special woredaand several resettlement areas.

Values for other reported common indicators of thestandard of livingfor the SNNPR as of 2005include the following: 10.7% of the inhabitants fall into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men is 57% and for women 22.4%; and the Regionalinfant mortality rateis 85 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which is greater than the nationwide average of 77; at least half of these deaths occurred in the infants' first month of life.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1994	10,377,028	—
2007	14,929,548	+43.9%
2017	19,170,007	+28.4%
source:

Religion

Religion	1994 Census	2007 Census
Orthodox Christians	34.6%	41.9%
Protestants	21.8%	38.5%
Muslim	15.2%	14.1%
Roman Catholics	3%	3.2%
Traditional religions	26.4%	2.4%
Other religious affiliations	—	0.5%

Ethnicities

Mursi people

Surma people

Daasanach people

The SNNPR, being an amalgam of the main homelands of numerousethnicities,contains over 45 indigenousethnic groups:

Largest ethnicities

People	1994 Census	2007 Census
Welayta	12%	10.59%
Hadiya	-	7.98%
Gurage	15%	19.54%
Gamo	-	7%
Kafficho	-	5.44%
Silt'e	-	5.37%
Amhara	-	4.10%

All ethnicities in region

The ethnicities native to the SNNPR, with percentages of the population as reported in the 2007 national census and organized by linguistic grouping, include:

• Cushitic:
  • Alaba– 1.35%, mostly inAlaba special woreda
  • Tembaro– 1.32%, mostly in Tembaro Woreda.
  • Arbore– 0.04%
  • Daasanach– 0.32%, mostly inDasenech(woreda)
  • Dirashe– 0.2%, mostly inDirashe special woreda
  • Gawwada– 0.43%, mostly inDirashe special woreda
  • Gedeo– 4.9%, mostly inGedeo Zone
  • Hadiya– 7.98%, mostly inHadiya Zone
  • Kambaata– 3.82%, mostly inKembata Tembaro Zone
  • Burji– 0.38%, mostly inBurji special woreda
  • Konso– 1.47%, mostly inKonso special woreda
  • Libido(or Mareqo) – 0.38%, mostly inMareko(woreda)
  • Sidama– 19.38%, mostly in the formerSidama Zone
  • Kebena– 1.21% mostly inKebena
  • Tsamai– 0.13%, mostly inBena Tsemay(woreda)
• Nilo-Saharan:
  • Bodi– 0.04%
  • Kichepo
  • Kwegu– 0.01%
  • Me'en– 1%
  • Mursi– 0.05%, mostly inSouth Omo Zone
  • Nyangatom– 0.12%, mostly inNyangatom
  • Shabo,mostly inKeficho Shekicho Zone
  • Shita people
  • Suri/Surma– 0.17%, mostly inSurma(woreda)
• Omotic:
  • Aari– 1.9%, mostly inBako Gazer(woreda)
  • Basketo– 0.52%, mostly inBasketo special woreda
  • Bench– 2.34%, mostly inBench Maji Zone
  • Chara– 0.08%, mostly inSouth Omo Zone
  • Dawro– 3.28%, mostly inDawro Zone
  • Dime– < 0.01%
  • Dizi– 0.23%, mostly inMaji(woreda)
  • Dorze,mostly inChencha(woreda)
  • Gamo– 7%, mostly inGamo Gofa Zone
  • Goffa– 2.41%, mostly inGamo Gofa Zone
  • Hamar– 0.31%, mostly inHamer(woreda)
  • Kachama,mostly inArba Minch(woreda)
  • Karo– 0.01%
  • Kafficho– 5.44%, mostly inKeffa Zone
  • Konta– 0.54%, mostly inKonta special woreda
  • Koorete– 1.02%, mostly inAmaro special woreda
  • Male– 0.59%, mostly inMale(woreda)
  • Mello,mostly inMelokoza(woreda)
  • Oyda– 0.25%, mostly inOyda(woreda)
  • Shakacho– 0.44%, mostly inSheka Zone
  • Sheko– 0.24%, mostly inSheko(woreda)
  • Welayta– 10.59%, mostly inWolayita Zone
  • Yem(Yemse) – 0.5%, mostly inYem special woreda
• Semitic:
  • Amhara– 4.10%, widespread
  • Gurage– 17.57, mostly inGurage Zone
  • Silte– 5.37%, mostly inSilt'e Zone
  • Zayse– 0.1%, mostly in theLake Zwayarea
  • Zergula

Languages

The 2007 census reported that the predominantly spoken mother tongue languages includeSidama(19.59%),Welayta(10.48%),Hadiya(8%),Gurage(7.13%),Gamo(6.9%),Kafa(5.36%) andAmharic(4.10%). Other languages spoken in the State includeKambaata,Melo,Gofa,GedeoandDime;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).

The 1994 census reported that the predominantly spoken languages includeSidamo(18%),Gurage(14.72%),Welayta(11.53%),Hadiya(8.53%),Kafa(5.22%), andKambaata(4.35%). Other languages spoken in the State includeGamo,Melo,Gofa,andGedeo.

Amharicis still the working language although most pupils get eight years of primary education in their home language and all secondary and further education is in English.

Agriculture

AKambaatawoman extracting the edible part of anenset(a major staple crop of the SNNPR) with a traditional tool.

The CSA reported that for 2004–2005 100,338 tons ofcoffeewere produced in the SNNPR, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 44.2% of the total production in Ethiopia.

Farmers in the Region had an estimated total 7,938,490 head of cattle (representing 20.5% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 3,270,200 sheep (18.8%), 2,289,970 goats (17.6%), 298,720 horses (19.7%), 63,460 mules (43.1%), 278,440 asses (11.1%), 6,586,140 poultry of all species (21.3%), and 726,960 beehives (16.7%).

Ensetis a major indigenous local crop in the SNNPR.

List of Chief Administrators

Main article:List of governors of the Regions of Ethiopia

• Abate Kisho(SEPDM), 1992–2001
• Hailemariam Desalegn,12 November 2001 – March 2006
• Shiferaw Shigute(SEPDM), March 2006 – July 2013
• Dessie Dalke,July 2013 – 2018
• Million Mathiwos,2018 – 2019
• Erstu Yirdaw,31 August 2019 – 18 August 2023

Administrative zones

Waterfalls in Arba Mich

The following table shows administrative zones and special woredas (an administrative subdivision which is similar to anautonomous area) is based on information from 2022; the list of second administrative level bodies maintained by theUnited Nations Geographic Information Working Groupdates from 2002.

ZonesandSpecial WoredasinSNNPR

Number	Zone	Seat	Notes
1	Ale special woreda	Kolango	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional Stateand gotZonal statusin August 2023
2	Amaro special woreda	Kele	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional Stateand got Zonal status in August 2023
3	Basketo special woreda	Laskka	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional Stateand got Zonal status in August 2023
4	Bench Sheko	Mizan Teferi	Included inSouth West Ethiopia Peoples' Regional State
5	Burji special woreda	Soyama	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional Stateand got Zonal status in August 2023
6	Dawro Zone	Tarcha	Included inSouth West Ethiopia Peoples' Regional State
7	Dirashe special woreda	Gidole	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional Stateand got Zonal status in August 2023
8	Gamo Zone	Arba Minch	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional State
9	Gedeo Zone	Dilla	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional State
10	Gofa Zone	Sawula	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional State
11	Gurage Zone	Welkite	Included inCentral Ethiopia Regional State
12	Hadiya Zone	Hosaena	Included inCentral Ethiopia Regional State
13	Halaba Zone	Halaba Kulito	Included inCentral Ethiopia Regional State
14	Keffa Zone	Bonga	Included inSouth West Ethiopia Peoples' Regional State
15	Kembata Tembaro Zone	Durame	Included inCentral Ethiopia Regional State
16	Konso Zone	Karati	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional State
17	Konta special woreda	Ameya	Included inSouth West Ethiopia Peoples' Regional Stateand got Zonal status in 2021
18	Sheka Zone	Tepi	Included inSouth West Ethiopia Peoples' Regional State
19	Sidama Zone	Hawassa	GotRegional state statusin 2020
20	Silt'e Zone	Worabe	Included inCentral Ethiopia Regional State
21	South Omo Zone	Jinka	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional State
22	West Omo Zone	Jemu	Included inSouth West Ethiopia Peoples' Regional State
23	Wolayita Zone	Wolaita Sodo	Included inSouth Ethiopia Regional State
24	Yem special woreda	Fofa	Included inCentral Ethiopia Regional Stateand got Zonal status in August 2023

Former zones

• Keficho Shekicho Zone
• North Omo Zone

See also

• List of districts in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region

External links

• Official website
• Map of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region at UN-OCHA(PDFfile)
• Map of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region at DPPA of Ethiopia(PDF file)
• Ethiopia's Vanishing Tribesslideshow byLifemagazine