Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 426,213, an increase of 54.64% over the 1994 census, of whom 213,845 are men and 212,368 women. With an area of 9,039.04 square kilometers, Wag Hemra has a population density of 47.15; 29,951 or 7.03% are urban inhabitants. A total of 102,098 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.17 persons to a household, and 98,222 housing units. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Wag Hemra were the Kamyr Agaw (52.92%), the Amhara (45.45%), and the Tigrayan (1.39%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.24% of the population. Amharic was spoken as a first language by 56.27%, 41.82% spoke Kamyr, and 1.67% spoke Tigrinya; the remaining 0.24% spoke all other primary languages reported. 99.62% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.[3]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 275,615 in 70,474 households, of whom 139,301 were men and 136,314 women; 11,643 or 4.22% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Wag Hemra were the Kamyr Agaw (51.24%), the Amhara (47.18%), and the Tigrayan (1.5%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.08% of the population. Amharic was spoken as a first language by 50.92%, 46.85% spoke Kamyr, and 2.19% spoke Tigrinya; the remaining 0.04% spoke all other primary languages reported. 99.6% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.[4]
According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 5% of the inhabitants of Wag Hemra have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 30.3 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),[5] the average rural household has 0.9 hectares of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and a regional average of 0.51)[6] and the equivalent of 0.9 heads of livestock. 8% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 21%. 35% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 5% 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 622.[7]
