Demographics
The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 90,408, of whom 46,759 were men and 43,649 were women; 14,655 or 16.21% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Muslim, with 60.74% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 37.68% of the population practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.37% of the population were Protestant.
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 135,023, of whom 67,257 are men and 67,766 are women; 26,053 or 19.30% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 12.3%. With an estimated area of 1,282.19 square kilometers, Merti has an estimated population density of 105.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 132.2.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 93,895, of whom 47,201 were men and 46,694 women; 14,575 or 15.52% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Merti were the Oromo (71.29%), and the Amhara (26.3%); all other ethnic groups made up 2.41% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 65.38%, and 33.79% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.83% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim, with 59.71% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 39.91% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
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