Liben Zone

Liben Zone Gobolka Liben
Map of Liben Zone
Liben Zone Location within Ethiopia
Coordinates: 4°45′N 40°30′E / 4.750°N 40.500°E / 4.750; 40.500
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Somali
Zone	Liben
Population (2007)
• Total	539,821
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Liben (Somali: Liibaan) is one of the nine Zones of the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Liben is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the northwest by the Oromia Region, on the northeast by Afder, and on the southeast by Somalia. Towns in Liben include Sathe, Softu and Dolo.

The Liben Zone has numerous social and economic ties with Somalia and the adjacent Somali populated North Eastern Province of Kenya. The three largest clans in this Zone, the Marehan, Garre and the Degodia are all "trans-national", having clansmen living across international boundaries. For example, camels are raised in the Liban Zone, exported to Arabia through ports in southern Somalia, most importantly Mogadishu. On the other hand, cattle and small ruminants are taken across the border and traded in livestock markets located in Kenya, the most important of these being Mandera and the Kenya side of Moyale, although Doolow on the Somali side is also a locally important livestock market.

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 539,821, of whom 297,315 are men and 242,506 women. While 46,892 or 8.69% are urban inhabitants, a further 258,214 or 47.83% were pastoralists. The largest ethnic group reported in Afder was the Somalis (99.55%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.45% of the population. Somali language is spoken as a first language by 99.52%; the remaining 0.48% spoke all other primary languages reported. 98.57% of the population said they were Muslim.