Area comparison map:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,925 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (6): Djibouti 342 km, Eritrea 1033 km, Kenya 867 km, Somalia 1640 km, South Sudan 1299 km, Sudan 744 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
More Climate Details

Terrain:
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Elevation:
mean elevation: 1,330 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,550 m

Natural resources:
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 36.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 15.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 20% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 12.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 51.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
2,900 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated

Natural hazards:
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

volcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management; industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
note 1: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; Ethiopia is, therefore, the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia

note 2: three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean