Siltʼe Zone is a zone of Ethiopia’s Central Ethiopia Region, administered from Worabe. It is the homeland of the Siltʼe people, who make up more than nine in ten residents, and it recorded 750,398 people at the 2007 census. The zone exists because of a referendum held between 18 and 26 April 2001, when the Siltʼe voted to separate from Gurage Zone and form their own zone.
| Region | Central Ethiopia |
| Administrative centre | Worabe |
| Created | 2001, by referendum |
| Woredas | 10, plus the Worabe town administration |
| Population (2007 census) | 750,398 |
| Main language | Siltʼe |
| Main religion | Islam |
Woredas (Districts)
The zone runs ten woredas plus the Worabe town administration. Misraq Silti and Mito are recent splits whose people were counted within their parent districts in 2007, and no separate projection is published for Mirab Azernet Berbere.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Silti | 177,249 | 252,929 |
| Lanfro | 116,114 | 168,248 |
| Alicho Werero | 92,483 | 121,378 |
| Dalocha | 89,807 | 126,233 |
| Sankura | 84,736 | 115,263 |
| Wulbareg | 79,981 | 107,084 |
| Misraq Azernet Berbere | 50,739 | 66,001 |
| Mirab Azernet Berbere | About 49,800 | Not published |
| Misraq Silti | Counted within Silti | Not published |
| Mito | Counted within parent district | Not published |
| Worabe town | 9,480 | 25,400 |
Major Towns
| Town | Woreda | Population (2022 proj.) |
|---|---|---|
| Worabe | Town administration | 25,400 |
| Kibet | Silti | Not published |
| Dalocha | Dalocha | Not published |
| Mito | Mito | Not published |
| Wulbareg | Wulbareg | Not published |
Geography
Siltʼe lies on the western shoulder of the Rift Valley, between roughly 1,500 and 2,600 metres. The land falls away eastward from the Azernet Berbere highlands towards the valley floor, and the drier eastern woredas depend on shorter, less reliable rains than the west.
The zone borders Halaba Zone to the south, Hadiya Zone to the south-west, Gurage Zone and East Gurage Zone to the north and north-west, and the Oromia Region to the east.
Demographics
The 2007 census counted 750,398 people, 364,108 men and 386,290 women, of whom 78,525 or 6.28% lived in towns. That urban share is one of the lowest in the region. Adding the CSA’s published 2022 projections for the zone’s districts and Worabe town gives about 983,000, excluding Mirab Azernet Berbere, so the current total is above one million.
The Siltʼe made up 97.35% of residents, and Siltʼe was the first language of 96.95%, with Amharic at 1.54%. Islam was reported by 97.6% of the population and Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity by 2.03%. Siltʼe is a Semitic language closely related to the Gurage varieties, and its recognition as distinct was central to the 2001 referendum.
Economy & Local Life
Households farm enset, wheat, barley, teff, maize and pulses, and the warmer eastern woredas grow pepper and haricot beans. Chat is a cash crop across much of the zone and moves daily by road towards Addis Ababa. Cattle, sheep and goats are kept on nearly every holding. Siltʼe traders are well established in Addis Ababa and in the Gulf, and remittances fund much of the building in Worabe and Kibet. Weekly markets at Worabe, Kibet and Dalocha are the main trading points.
Getting There
Worabe is about 172 km south of Addis Ababa. The usual route runs on asphalt through Alem Gena and Butajira, then south-east about 40 km to Worabe, a three-hour drive with regular bus and minibus service. Halaba Kulito lies roughly 45 km further south and Hosaena about 100 km south-west. The nearest scheduled airport is Addis Ababa Bole.
FAQ
Where is Siltʼe Zone?
In the Central Ethiopia Region, on the western side of the Rift Valley about 172 km south of Addis Ababa.
What is the capital of Siltʼe Zone?
Worabe, sometimes spelled Werabe.
How many woredas are in Siltʼe Zone?
Ten, plus the Worabe town administration.
What language is spoken in Siltʼe Zone?
Siltʼe, a Semitic language related to the Gurage varieties, spoken by about 97% of residents.
When was Siltʼe Zone created?
In 2001, after a referendum held between 18 and 26 April in which the Siltʼe voted to separate from Gurage Zone.
What religion is practised in Siltʼe Zone?
Islam, reported by 97.6% of residents at the 2007 census.