page_title: Oromia Region
section_title: Economy
hierarchical_section_title: Oromia Region / Economy
caption_attribution_description: English: Lega Dambi is found in Guji Zone, Oromia. It is the large gold scale mining affecting the area.
context_page_description: The Oromia Region is a regional state in Ethiopia, the homeland of the Oromo people. It is bordered by the Somali Region to the east; the Amhara Region, the Afar Region and the Benishangul-Gumuz Region to the north; South Sudan, Gambela Region, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region to the west; and Kenya to the south. The 2011 census reported the population of Oromia as 35,000,000; this makes it the largest regional state in population. It is also the largest regional state covering 286,612 square kilometers. Oromia is the world's forty-second most populous subnational entity, and the most populous subnational entity in all of Africa.
  Oromia includes the former Arsi Province along with portions of the former Bale, Hararghe, Illubabor, Kaffa, Shewa and Sidamo provinces. Towns in the region include Adama, Ambo, Asella, Badessa, Bale Robe, Bedele, Bishoftu, Begi, Bule Hora, Chiro, Dembidolo, Fiche, Gimbi, Goba, Haramaya, Jimma, Metu, Nekemte, Sebeta, Shashamane, and Waliso, among many others.
context_section_description: Oromia is a major contributor to Ethiopia's main exports - gold, coffee, khat and cattle. Lega Dembi in Guji Zone, owned by Midroc has exported more than 5000 kilograms of gold followed by Tulu Kapi in Wollaga. Awoday in Hararghe is the biggest market of khat exporting to Djibouti and Somalia. Oromia has also abundant livestock than any regions in Ethiopia including camels. It is also the largest producer of cereals and coffee.
  The CSA reported that, from 2004 to 2005, 115,083 tons of coffee were produced in Oromia, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority. This represents 50.7% of the total production in Ethiopia. Farmers in the Region had an estimated total of 17,214,540 cattle (representing 44.4% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 6,905,370 sheep (39.6), 4,849,060 goats (37.4%), 959,710 horses (63.25%), 63,460 mules (43.1%), 278,440 asses (11.1%), 139,830 camels (30.6%), 11,637,070 poultry of all species (37.7%), and 2,513,790 beehives (57.73%).
  According to a March 2003 World Bank publication, the average rural household has 1.14 hectares of land compared to the national average of 1.01 hectares. 24% of the population work in non-farm related jobs compared to the national average of 25%.
caption: The road to Lega Dembi gold mine.
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