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The State of Somalia has a very large area size ranking second next to Oromiya. At present the state comprises 9 administrative zones and 49 woredas..

CAPITAL CITY

LOCATION The State of Somali is located in the eastern and south eastern part of Ethiopia. The State has common boundaries with Afar and the Republic of Djibouti in the north, Kenya in the south, the State of Oromiya in the west, and Somalia in the east and in the South. AREA The State of Somalia has an estimated area of about 250,000 square kilometers. POPULATION According to the census conducted at the beginning of September 1997, the number of   population   of the state was 3,439,860 of which 1,875,996 were males and 1,563,864 females. The urban residents of the State of Somalia number 492,710 households in the region, with an average of 6.6 persons per household. The State has a high sex ratio of 120 (the number of males) to 100 females.

The ethnic composition includes, Somali 95.6%, Oromo 2.25%, Amhara 0.69%, and Somalians 0.63%, and Guragie 0.14%.

Somaligna is predominantly spoken within the State. It constitutes 95.9%. It is also the working language of the State, Other major languages are Oromifa 2.24%, Amaharic 0.92%, and Guragigna 0.033%.

According to the census result, 98.7% of the population are Muslim. 0.9% Orthodox Christians, and 0.3% are followers of other religions.

 MAJOR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Although most of the people of the state of Somalia mainly earn their livelihood from livestock, they practice crop production as well. The major crops cultivated in the region are sorghum and maize. Wheat and barley are also harvested in a smaller amount each year. Commercial activity is another occupation that is significantly exercised in the region. TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE The majority of the region has an altitude of 900 meter above sea level and in some area the altitude reaches 1600 meters. Of the total area size of the State approximately 80% is flat & 7% mountainous.

Regarding climate, 80% of the region is classified as "Kolla" (lowlands), 5% highland ("Dega"), and 15% of the area fall under temperate ("Woyna Dega") category. The maximum temperature reaches 32-400c. In the temperate ("Woyna Dega") areas the temperature is within 20-280c. The mean annual rainfall of the State is estimated to be 300-500 mm.

 RIVERS AND LAKES The State has three big rivers, namely Wabeshebele, Genale and Weybe, which could be utilized for irrigation. LIVESTOCK The region claims to have about 11.15 million domestic animals (1997 G.C.) of which 2.15 million are cattle. 5.63 million are sheep and goats and 392,000 pack animals. FAUNA In seven zones of the region, especially in Fiq, Afdem, Liben and Jigjiga, the presence of lots of wild animals had been disclosed. LIVESTOCK The state of Somalia is known for its livestock resources from which most of the Somali people earn their livelihood. The region is estimated to have about 15.2 million domestic animals out of which sheep constitute for 53% (nearly 8 million in number). Goats and cattle are the second and third most important domestic animals in the State accounting for 20% (3.1 million in number) and 15% (2.3 million in number), respectively. Camels are actually the most important animals in the day to day life of the pasturalist Somali people, and they constitute for about 9% (1.3 million in number). INVESTMENT Until the beginning of 1997 the  investment office of the State of Somalia has awarded investment certificates to 12 projects. The total investment capital of the projects is 28.6 million Birr and is expected to create employment opportunity to 140 people. The major sector, which attracted 5 investors with a total capital of 18.3 million Birr is agriculture, five investors are engaged in industry (food manufacturing) with a total investment capital of 4.8 million.

The state is very rich in livestock. Moreover, it is endowed with natural gum, natural salt (in Afdem zone), natural gas oil  has high potential for investment.
 
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