Statistics

I came across these statistics about Ethiopia and had to share...they are devastating. It breaks my heart that these kids (and adults) are living in a country with so little opportunity for a future. It is encouraging to know however that people and organizations are trying to make a difference and bring hope to these people with aid and adoption. Just this past month our agency alone had 10 families receive referrals for children in Ethiopia. That's just one of many agencies, we can all help in one way or another, one child at a time.

• One in six children die before their fifth birthday


• 44% of the population of Ethiopia is under the age of 15


• 60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition


• The median age in Ethiopia is 17.8 years


• 1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)


• 720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone, there are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia


• Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa


• In the 90's the population (3%) grew faster than food production (2.2%)


• Drought struck the country from 00 -02; first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals


• Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school, 88% will never attend secondary school


• Ethiopia's doctor to children ratio is 1:24,000


• Coffee prices (Ethiopia's only major export) fell 40% - 60% from 98 - 02


• In 93, after 30 years of war, Eritrea broke from Ethiopia and became an independent nation, leaving Ethiopia landlocked without any major seafaring ports