Asosa Zone is the westernmost of the three zones of Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz Region, and its centre is Asosa, which is also the regional capital. The zone counted 310,822 people at the 2007 census and about 479,600 under the 2022 CSA projection, spread across seven woredas and roughly 14,166 square kilometres.
The zone takes its name from the Asosa (Bela Shangul) sultanate, whose territory covered much the same ground. The Berta are the largest community, and the zone runs west to the Sudanese border at Kurmuk.
| Zone centre | Asosa |
| Region | Benishangul-Gumuz |
| Woredas | 7 |
| Population (2007 census) | 310,822 |
| Population (2022 projection) | 479,567 |
| Area | 14,166 km² |
| Density (2007) | 21.9 per km² |
Woredas (Districts)
Asosa Zone is divided into seven woredas. The figures below are the 2007 census counts and the Central Statistical Service projection for 2022.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Asosa | 104,147 | 177,292 |
| Bambasi | 48,694 | 79,558 |
| Homosha (Komesha) | 21,744 | 30,603 |
| Kurmuk | 16,734 | 23,368 |
| Menge | 40,240 | 55,843 |
| Oda Buldigilu | 54,584 | 78,305 |
| Sherkole | 24,679 | 34,598 |
| Total | 310,822 | 479,567 |
Major Towns
| Town | Woreda | Population (2022 proj.) |
|---|---|---|
| Asosa | Asosa | 69,700 |
| Bambasi | Bambasi | 26,300 |
Asosa and Bambasi are the only towns in the zone with separately published population figures. The remaining woreda centres are small market and administrative seats: Homosha, Kurmuk, Menge, Sherkole and Oda Buldigilu. Kurmuk sits on the international boundary and faces a town of the same name in Sudan’s Blue Nile State, which makes it the zone’s main border crossing.
Geography
Asosa Zone occupies the western escarpment, where the Ethiopian plateau steps down to the Sudanese lowlands. Asosa town stands at roughly 1,570 metres; the land falls away westward into hot savanna and bamboo woodland along the border. The highest point is Mount Bambasi, in the woreda of the same name.
The zone is bordered on the west by Sudan, on the south by Mao-Komo special woreda, on the north-east by Kamashi Zone, and on the east by the Oromia Region. Metekel Zone lies further north, beyond the Abay (Blue Nile). The Dabus River runs along part of the eastern side; the rest of the drainage is seasonal streams flowing west towards the Blue Nile in Sudan.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 310,822 residents, 158,932 men and 151,890 women, in 72,879 households averaging 4.27 people. Only 39,957 people, or 12.86 percent, lived in towns. The 2022 projection puts the zone at about 479,600.
The largest ethnic groups in 2007 were the Berta (59.95 percent), Amhara (23.86 percent), Oromo (10.31 percent) and Tigrayans (1.5 percent). First languages followed the same pattern: Berta 59.31 percent, Amharic 25.7 percent, Oromo 10.68 percent and Tigrinya 1.07 percent. Islam was the majority religion at 74.08 percent, with Ethiopian Orthodox Christians at 16.51 percent and Protestants at 8.57 percent.
Economy & Local Life
Farming is the mainstay. Sorghum, maize, sesame and groundnuts are the main field crops, and mango does well around Asosa and Bambasi. Sesame is the leading cash crop and moves out through Asosa to Addis Ababa and to Sudan. Lowland bamboo covers large tracts of the western woredas and supplies construction material and household goods.
Artisanal gold panning is common along the seasonal streams and is an important source of cash between harvests. Weekly markets in each woreda centre handle grain, livestock, honey and bamboo, and cross-border trade runs through Kurmuk.
Getting There
Asosa is about 660 km west of Addis Ababa. The road runs through Ambo, Nekemte and Gimbi and is asphalt for the full distance; the drive takes two days for most travellers, or a long single day. Asosa Airport has scheduled Ethiopian Airlines flights from Addis Ababa, which is the quickest way in.
From Asosa, all-weather roads reach Bambasi to the south-east and Menge and Homosha to the north. The road to Kurmuk on the Sudanese border is the western route out of the zone. Roads to the outlying woredas are gravel and can be slow in the June-to-September rains.
FAQ
Where is Asosa Zone?
Asosa Zone is in western Ethiopia, in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the Sudanese border about 660 km west of Addis Ababa.
What is the capital of Asosa Zone?
Asosa town. It is the seat of the zone and also the capital of the whole Benishangul-Gumuz Region, with a projected population of about 69,700 in 2022.
How many woredas are in Asosa Zone?
Seven: Asosa, Bambasi, Homosha (Komesha), Kurmuk, Menge, Oda Buldigilu and Sherkole.
What is the population of Asosa Zone?
310,822 at the 2007 census, the last full national count. The 2022 CSA projection is about 479,600.
What language is spoken in Asosa Zone?
Berta is the first language of about 59 percent of residents, followed by Amharic at about 26 percent and Oromo at about 11 percent. Amharic is the working language of administration.
How do you get to Asosa from Addis Ababa?
By air to Asosa Airport on Ethiopian Airlines, or by road via Nekemte and Gimbi on the asphalt highway, about 660 km.