Ethiopia is the oldest country in Africa and possibly the world. It was thought to be a beacon to other African countries during the colonial period because it was the only one to maintain its independence–despite attempts made by the Italians. Ethiopia has the second largest population in Africa, following Nigeria. There are over 80 languages spoken here, the most widely used being Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, and Somali. Freedom of religion is new in Ethiopia; while it has been protected by the constitution since 1995, the principle is not always upheld in certain areas.