Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa but only 20% of its population lives in urban areas. The relevance of this fact entails that traditions, economic activities and their social structure are still highly attached to the rural, which is reflected in the ‘’ruralization’’ of the urban areas, that have retarded the progress of cities according to the goals set by the government to achieve modernization. In The capital, Addis Ababa, traditional practices rooted in the countryside are part of the daily activities fostering a juxtaposition and fragmentation of land uses emphasizing the proliferation of informal economies and the unforeseen urban growth where lower and higher-income groups live side by side. In that sense, I find in these challenges an opportunity to propose an inclusive scenario enabling adaptations over time, while pretending to dignify the lives of the current residents and newcomers by granting the same accessibility to decent homes and healthy environments through the sense of appropriation for their own living environment.

This research booklet brings together a selection of quantitative data (e.g. Demography, Economy, Climate) related with Ethiopia, in general, and Addis Ababa in particular. This booklet compiles data from different sources (e.g. bibliography, online databases, and statistical data). The data is processed using new visual outputs that allow a comparative analysis of the case study (Addis Ababa) with other geographical contexts.