Overview
Rivers in this woreda include the Abuko, Mara, Robi and Gibe. The all-weather highway which links Nekemte to the capital city Addis Ababa runs through all three towns in this woreda. A survey of the land in Bako Tibe shows that 54.25% is arable or cultivable, 23.98% pasture, 5.12% forest, and 16.65% infrastructure or other uses.[1] Although coffee is an important cash crop of this woreda, less than 20 square kilometers are planted with this crop.[2]
There are 38 primary schools in this woreda, 20 providing education for grades 1-4 and 18 providing education for grades 1–8, and two secondary education schools, one providing education for grades 9-10 and the other for grades 11–12. Health services are provided by one health center, 10 clinics, and 6 health posts; these facilities are ill-equipped and under-staffed, making them insufficient to reach the entire population.[3]
Demographics
The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 123,031, of whom 61,018 were men and 62,013 were women; 22,851 or 18.57% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Protestant, with 60.87% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 28.58% of the population practised Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 8.21% were Muslim.[4]
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 133,799, of whom 68,401 are men and 65,398 are women; 28,294 or 21.15% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 637.19 square kilometers, Bako Tibe has an estimated population density of 210 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 152.8.[5]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 92,608, of whom 45,245 were men and 47,363 women; 15,827 or 17.09% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Bako Tibe were the Oromo (68.34%), the Amhara (34.63%), and the Sebat Bet Gurage (2.02%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.01% of the population. The amharic language was spoken as a first language by 65.82%, and 48.4% spoke oromo language; the remaining 0.78% spoke all other primary languages reported. A plurality of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 44.79% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 22.37% of the population said they were Protestant, 19.31% practiced traditional beliefs, 9.23% were Muslim, and 0.98% were Catholic.[6]
