Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 306,488, of whom 175,624 are men and 130,864 women. While 28,784 or 9.39% are urban inhabitants, a further 113,408 or 37% were pastoralists. The largest ethnic group reported in Werder were the Somalis (99.57%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.43% of the population. Somali language is spoken as a first language by 99.58%; the remaining 0.42% spoke all other primary languages reported. 99.36% of the population said they were Muslim.
The 1997 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 324,308 in 42,564 households, of whom 181,566 were males and 142,742 were females; 24,681 or 7.61% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in the Werder Zone was the Somali 323,928 (99.9%), and Somali was spoken by 323,881 (99.9%). The literacy rate in this Zone is 4.2%. The CSA categorized 160,057 (49.3%) of the people in the Zone as being part of the labor pool of whom 10,722 (6.7%) were unemployed).
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 1% of the inhabitants of Werder have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 0.0 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. 28.2% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and an average of 28% for pastoral Regions. 13% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 1% in secondary schools. 100% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 788.
Read more about this topic: Werder Zone