Flags, Symbols & Currency of Ethiopia

The National Flag of Ethiopia was officially adopted on October 31, 1996. The flag has been designed by Abebe Alambo.

The National Flag of Ethiopia features three equal horizontal bands of the Pan-African colors:  green (top), yellow, and red. On a light blue disk centered on the three bands is a yellow pentagram with single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points. The green color represents hope and the fertility of the land. The yellow color symbolizes justice and harmony. The red color symbolizes strength and stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land. The blue disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the different nationalities and the people of Ethiopia. The flag has a width-to-length proportion ratio of 1:2.

History of the Flag of Ethiopia

During the 16^th century, the flag of the Aussa Sultanate was the first flag that was flown in Ethiopia. During the 17^th century, the red, yellow, and green pennants were flown. The first official flag in 1897 featured a horizontal tricolor of green-yellow-red along with the Lion of Judah at the center of the flag. In 1974, this flag was slightly modified after the defeat of the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. The crown and Staff which the Lion of Judah carried was replaced with a spear. Between 1974-1987, when Ethiopia was under the Derg rule, the lion was removed from the flag. After 1987, with the formation of the Socialist People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the socialist emblem now featured at the center of the flag. In 1991 when the People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front gained power, the socialist emblem was removed. In 1996, the Ethiopian emblem was added and placed in the center of the flag.

National Anthem

• Anthem Title: "March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia"
• Music Composer: Solomon Lulu Mitiku
• Lyricist: Dereje Melaku Mengesha
• Date of Adoption: 1992

"March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia" is the national anthem of Ethiopia. The music of the anthem have been composed by Solomon Lulu Mitiku. The lyrics of the anthem have been authored by Dereje Melaku Mengesha. The anthem was officially adopted in 1992.

The current official currency of Ethiopia is the Ethiopian birr (ETB). The Ethiopian birr is subdivided into 100 santims.

Coins

The first Ethiopian birr coins were in circulation between 1894 and 1897. The coin denominations included the copper coins of 1/100 and 1/32 birr, silver coins of 1 ghersh, ¹⁄₈, ¹⁄₄, ¹⁄_2, and 1 birr, and the gold coins of  1⁄4,  1⁄2, and 1 werk. There was a new system of coins that began in 1931.

The second Ethiopian birr coins were introduced in 1944 and consisted of copper coins of 1, 5, 10, and 25 santim and the silver coins of 50 santims. In 1977, a new series of coins was introduced.

Currently, coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 santims, and 1 birr are in circulation.

Banknotes

The Bank of Abyssinia introduced the first set of notes in 1915. It consisted of 5,10,100 and 500 talari. In 1932, the Bank of Ethiopia gave out the same denominations of notes. In 1945, the State Bank of Ethiopia introduced the second series of the notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 birr. From 1966, the production of banknotes was in all the denominations except the 500 birr with the National Bank of Ethiopia being the producer.

Currently, Banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200 birr are in circulation.

Historical Currencies of Ethiopia

Salt blocks called “amole tchew” and Maria Theresa thalers were the currencies used in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The combination of the names birr, Thaler, and dollar was the name talari which on February 9, 1893, it became the standard unit made up of 20 ghersh. In 1903, a new series of coins came into circulation in the forms of silver ghersh and quarter-birr. The weight of silver ghersh was 1/16 of that of birr. The Bank of Abyssinia was importing approximately 1,200,000 Marial Theresa thalers by the start of the First World War, and in 1915, the bank brought banknotes into circulation. The Italian lira came into service during the period 1936-1941. On July 15, 1936, there was the introduction of the Italian lira following the transformation of Ethiopia after the Italians occupied the country. Also, the circulation of the Ethiopian banknotes was withdrawn to increase the flow of Italian money. During the period 1941-1945, the East African shilling was used after the East African Campaign of 1941 that lead to the introduction of the currency by the British forces. In 1945, there was the introduction of the second birr with the conversion rate of 2 shillings per birr. The circulation of the Ethiopian currency consisted of the Menelik talari and Maria Theresa by the mid of the 1930s. The currency of Ethiopia before 1931 was referred to as the Abyssinia birr, and after 1931 up to date, the currency’s name is Ethiopian birr.