Abaya (woreda)

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Abaya is a woreda (district) in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, in the Borena Zone. It was formed from the former Gelana Abaya woreda and is now one of the two woredas that came from that split. Abaya lies near Lake Abaya to the west. Some Guji Oromo people living near Nechisar National Park are part of this woreda, in an area called Irgansaa. The land sits between about 800 and 2,300 meters above sea level, and the Gelana and Gildabo rivers run through it.

Land and farming
- Land use: about 41% arable, 35% pasture, 15% forest, 9% other land.
- Main crops: maize, wheat, barley and haricot beans. Sorghum, teff and ensete are grown in some areas.
- Coffee: an important cash crop with over 5,000 hectares planted.
- Industry: two coffee pulpers and various traders; minerals like ignimbrite and basalt are known but not mined.

People and infrastructure
- About 32 Farmers Associations (5,643 members) and 4 Farmers Service Cooperatives.
- Roads: 67 km of dry-weather roads and 19 km of all-weather roads.
- Drinking water: around 21.6% of people have access.

Population and religion
- The 2007 census recorded 103,348 residents (roughly equal numbers of men and women), with about 4,570 urban dwellers.
- Religions: about 63% Protestant, 17% traditional beliefs, 12% Ethiopian Orthodox, and 2–3% Catholic.
- The area is ethnically diverse, with Oromo, Gedeo and Amhara groups speaking their respective languages.