Kilbet Rasu, officially Administrative Zone 2, is the northern zone of Ethiopia’s Afar Region. Its administrative centre is Abala, known in the neighbouring highlands as Shiket, and it covers 18,068 square kilometres. The 2007 census counted 350,111 people; the current projections for its woredas total about 481,000. The zone contains the Danakil Depression, the lowest and hottest inhabited ground in Ethiopia.
| Zone name | Kilbet Rasu (Administrative Zone 2) |
|---|---|
| Region | Afar |
| Administrative centre | Abala (Shiket) |
| Area | 18,068 km² |
| Population (2007 census) | 350,111 |
| Population (2022 projection) | about 481,000 |
| Main language | Afar |
Woredas (Districts)
Seven woredas appear in the 2007 census atlas and in the current federal projections. Bidu was separated later and carries no independent census figure.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Dalol | 83,930 | 110,066 |
| Berahile | 78,881 | 108,555 |
| Kunoba | 54,198 | 73,390 |
| Abala | 37,963 | 60,898 |
| Erebti | 34,801 | 45,654 |
| Afdera | 32,225 | 45,683 |
| Megale | 28,113 | 37,030 |
| Bidu | created later | not reported |
Major Towns
Kilbet Rasu is the least urbanised zone in Afar: fewer than one resident in thirteen lived in a town at the last census. Abala is the only settlement with a published town population.
| Town | Woreda | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Abala | Abala | 25,300 (2022 proj.) |
| Berhale | Berahile | not reported |
| Dallol | Dalol | not reported |
| Afdera | Afdera | not reported |
| Erebti | Erebti | not reported |
| Koneba | Kunoba | not reported |
| Megale | Megale | not reported |
Geography
The zone runs north from Awsi Rasu to the Eritrean border. Fantí Rasu lies to the southwest and the Tigray Region to the west, where the escarpment climbs sharply from the plain to the highlands.
Most of Kilbet Rasu sits in the Danakil Depression, a rift basin that drops to roughly 125 metres below sea level. Dallol, a former potash-mining settlement in the north, records an average temperature near 34 °C and is cited as the hottest inhabited place on Earth. Salt flats cover much of the basin floor. The Erta Ale volcanic range on the eastern side holds one of the world’s few long-lived lava lakes. Lake Afdera, a saline lake in the southeast, is worked for salt.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 350,111 residents: 195,404 men and 154,707 women. Towns held 26,217 people (7.49%) and pastoralist households 38,249 (10.93%). The woreda projections sum to about 481,000 for 2022. No census has been held since 2007, so later numbers are projections.
Afar people made up 96.04% of the population and Tigrayans 3.29%, concentrated on the western escarpment. Afar was the first language of 96% and Tigrinya of 3.31%. Muslims accounted for 96.54% and Ethiopian Orthodox Christians 3.4%.
Economy & Local Life
Salt is the zone’s defining trade. Blocks cut by hand from the Danakil flats near Hamed Ela and Ahmed Ela move by camel and truck through Berhale to Mekelle. Traders have worked that route for centuries. Afdera supplies much of Ethiopia’s table salt, and potash deposits at Dallol have drawn repeated mining interest. Away from the flats, households keep camels, goats and sheep and move with the seasons. Abala’s market links the lowland herders with highland grain traders from Tigray.
Getting There
Access is from the highlands rather than along the Afar plain. The usual approach is from Mekelle in Tigray, east through the escarpment to Abala, roughly 130 kilometres. A second road runs from Mekelle to Berhale and on to the salt flats at Hamed Ela. From the south, a road leaves the Addis Ababa–Djibouti highway near Serdo for Afdera. There are no scheduled passenger flights inside the zone; the nearest airports are at Mekelle and Semera.
FAQ
Where is Kilbet Rasu?
In the far north of Ethiopia’s Afar Region, between the Tigray highlands and the Eritrean border, covering most of the Danakil Depression.
What is the capital of Kilbet Rasu?
Abala, also called Shiket by highland traders.
How many woredas does Kilbet Rasu have?
Seven are reported in census and projection tables: Abala, Afdera, Berahile, Dalol, Erebti, Kunoba and Megale. Bidu was created later.
Why is Dallol famous?
Its average temperature of about 34 °C is the highest recorded for any inhabited place. The surrounding salt and sulphur formations sit below sea level.
What language is spoken in Kilbet Rasu?
Afar, the first language of 96% of residents at the 2007 census. Tigrinya is spoken along the western escarpment.
Is Kilbet Rasu the same as Zone 2?
Yes. Federal records use the number, regional records the Afar name. The spelling Kilbatti Rasu is also used.