Ethiopia

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 566,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Broadcast media

10 public/state broadcasters; 9 public/state radio stations; 13 commercial FM radio stations; 18 commercial TV stations; 45 community radio stations; 5 community TV stations (2023)

Internet country code

.et

Internet users

percent of population: 17% (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 766,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 85.9 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 37.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $8.808 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $12.49 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

-$4.788 billion (2023 est.) -$5.16 billion (2022 est.) -$4.507 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$25.426 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

low-income, fast-growing Horn of Africa economy; widespread poverty and food insecurity worsened by conflict and environmental factors; landlocked with tensions over seaport access; development aid supporting reforms to boost private-sector growth and financial stability; challenge of creating jobs for growing labor force

Exchange rates

birr (ETB) per US dollar - 54.601 (2023 est.) 51.756 (2022 est.) 43.734 (2021 est.) 34.927 (2020 est.) 29.07 (2019 est.)

Exports

$10.865 billion (2023 est.) $10.971 billion (2022 est.) $9.496 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

USA 12%, China 10%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$126.773 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 80.2% (2024 est.) government consumption: 5.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 5.6% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -11.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 34.9% (2024 est.) industry: 25.4% (2024 est.) services: 37.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

31.1 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.5% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 24.8% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$22.951 billion (2023 est.) $24.187 billion (2022 est.) $20.859 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, raw sugar, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 26%, Djibouti 16%, India 7%, Kuwait 7%, Saudi Arabia 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

9.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

21% (2024 est.) 30.2% (2023 est.) 33.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

54.47 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

23.5% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

31.4% of GDP (2019 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$380.895 billion (2024 est.) $354.926 billion (2023 est.) $332.97 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

7.3% (2024 est.) 6.6% (2023 est.) 5.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$2,900 (2024 est.) $2,800 (2023 est.) $2,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

0.33% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.784 billion (2024 est.) $2.028 billion (2023 est.) $1.192 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

3.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

3.4% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 3.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 5.4% (2024 est.) male: 4% (2024 est.) female: 7.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

production: 456,000 metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 1.653 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 5.69 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.298 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 1.762 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.194 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 55% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 94% electrification - rural areas: 43%

Electricity generation sources

solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) geothermal: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

2.366 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 428,000 barrels (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

18.519 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.092 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Environmental issues

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management; industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Land use

agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.) forest: 23.7% (2023 est.) other: 42.2% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 1,108.5 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 1,948.6 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 356.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 143.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

23.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

122 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 51.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 9.687 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.533 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.8% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 1,104,300 sq km land: 1,096,570 sq km water: 7,730 sq km note: area numbers are approximate since a large portion of the Ethiopia-Somalia border is undefined

Area - comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point: Ras Dejen 4,550 m lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m mean elevation: 1,330 m

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note

the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia

Irrigated land

1,814 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

total: 5,925 km border countries (6): Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km

Land use

agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.) forest: 23.7% (2023 est.) other: 42.2% (2023 est.)

Location

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Major aquifers

Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Tana - 3,600 sq km; Abaya Hayk - 1,160 sq km; Ch'amo Hayk - 550 sq km salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Kenya) - 6,400 sq km; Abhe Bid Hayk/Abhe Bad (shared with Djibouti) - 780 sq km;

Major rivers (by length in km)

Blue Nile river source (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts volcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m) is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir

Natural resources

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Population distribution

highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Administrative divisions

12 ethnically based regional states ( kililoch , singular - kilil ) and 2 chartered cities* ( astedader akabibiwach , singular - astedader akabibi ); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela), Hareri Hizb (Harari), Oromia, Sidama, Sumale, Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples), Southern Ethiopia Peoples

Capital

name: Addis Ababa geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name in Amharic means "new flower;" Empress TAITU gave the name to the new capital city in 1887

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995 amendment process: proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils

Country name

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa abbreviation: FDRE etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek word used to describe the inhabitants, aithiops , meaning "burnt appearance"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023) embassy: Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa mailing address: 2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20521-2030 telephone: [251] 111-30-60-00 FAX: [251] 111-24-24-01 email address and website: AddisACS@state.gov https://et.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador BINALF Andualem Ashenef (since 25 February 2025) chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200 FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195 email address and website: ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org https://ethiopianembassy.org/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN)

Executive branch

chief of state: President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024) head of government: Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections most recent election date: 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) election results: 2021: SAHLE-WORK Zewde reelected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021)

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a light blue disk centered on the three bands; on the disk is a yellow pentagram with single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points meaning: green stands for hope and the land's fertility, yellow for justice and harmony, and red for sacrifice and heroism; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the Ethiopian people's unity and equality history: the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996 note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and newly independent African countries often adopted the Ethiopian flag's colors, which were later known as the Pan-African movement's colors

Government type

federal parliamentary republic

Independence

oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, at least 2,000 years; may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which appeared in the first century B.C.

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, BRICS, COMESA, EITI, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (accession candidate)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges) judge selection and term of office: president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member body chaired by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60 subordinate courts: federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts note: the House of Federation has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

legislative structure: bicameral note: the House of Federation is responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues, and the House of People's Representatives is responsible for passing legislation

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: House of Peoples' Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete) number of seats: 547 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 6/21/2021 to 9/30/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Prosperity Party (448); Other (22) percentage of women in chamber: 41.9% expected date of next election: June 2026 note: only 470 of the 547 seats in the House of People's Representatives were filled during the 2021 elections due to security issues in the Tigray State and other areas

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: House of the Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete) number of seats: 153 (all indirectly elected) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/4/2021 percentage of women in chamber: 29.7% expected date of next election: October 2026

National anthem(s)

title: "Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia) lyrics/music: DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu history: adopted 1992

National coat of arms

adopted in 1996, the coat of arms features the national symbol, a pentagram; the blue circle symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the Ethiopian people

National color(s)

green, yellow, red

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 12 (10 cultural, 2 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Aksum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c); Gedeo Cultural Landscape (c); Bale Mountains National Park (n); Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia (c)

National holiday

Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)

National symbol(s)

Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by government)

Political parties

Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice and Democracy or EZEMA Gedeo People's Democratic Party Independent Kucha People Democratic Party National Movement of Amhara or NAMA Prosperity Party or PP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The area that is modern-day Ethiopia is rich in cultural and religious diversity with more than 80 ethnic groups. The oldest hominid yet found comes from Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was the second country to officially adopt Christianity in the 4th century A.D. A series of monarchies ruled the area that is now Ethiopia from 980 B.C. to 1855, when the Amhara kingdoms of northern Ethiopia united in an empire under Tewodros II. Many Ethiopians still speak reverently about the Battle of Adwa in 1896, when they defeated Italian forces and won their freedom from colonial rule. Emperor Haile SELASSIE became an internationally renowned figure in 1935, when he unsuccessfully appealed to the League of Nations to prevent Italy from occupying Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941. SELASSIE survived an attempted coup in 1960, annexed modern-day Eritrea in 1962, and played a leading role in establishing the Organization of African Unity in 1963. However, in 1974, a military junta called the Derg deposed him and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, drought, and massive displacement, the Derg regime was toppled in 1991 by a coalition of opposing forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The EPRDF became an ethno-federalist political coalition that ruled Ethiopia from 1991 until its dissolution in 2019. Ethiopia adopted its constitution in 1994 and held its first multiparty elections in 1995. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Eritrea in the late 1990s ended with a peace treaty in 2000. Ethiopia subsequently rejected the 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission demarcation. This resulted in more than a decade of a tense no peace, no war stalemate between the two countries. In 2012, longtime Prime Minister MELES Zenawi died in office and was replaced by his Deputy Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn, marking the first peaceful transition of power in decades. Following a wave of popular dissent and anti-government protest that began in 2015, HAILEMARIAM resigned in 2018, and ABIY Ahmed Ali took office the same year as Ethiopia's first ethnic Oromo prime minister. In 2018, ABIY promoted a rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea that was marked with a peace agreement and a reopening of their shared border. In 2019, Ethiopia's nearly 30-year ethnic-based ruling coalition, the EPRDF, merged into a single unity party called the Prosperity Party; however, the lead coalition party, the Tigray People s Liberation Front (TPLF), declined to join. In 2020, a military conflict erupted between forces aligned with the TPLF and the Ethiopian military. The conflict -- which was marked by atrocities committed by all parties -- ended in 2022 with a cessation of hostilities agreement between the TPLF and the Ethiopian Government. However, Ethiopia continues to experience ethnic-based violence as other groups -- including the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Amhara militia Fano -- seek concessions from the Ethiopian Government.

Military - note

the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is focused on both external threats emanating from its neighbors and internal threats from multiple internal armed groups; since 1998, the ENDF has engaged in several conventional and counterinsurgency operations, including border wars with Eritrea (1998-2000) and Somalia (2006-2008) and internal conflicts with the Tigray regional state (2020-2022), multiple insurgent groups and ethnic militias, and the al-Shabaab terrorist group; as of 2025, the ENDF was actively conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-government militants in several states, including the Amhara militia Fano and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), as well as al-Shabaab in Somalia (2025)

Military and security forces

Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF; aka Federal Defense Force of Ethiopia, FDRE): Army, Air Force, Naval Force, Defense Cyber Main Directorate (2025) note 1: national and regional police forces are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order, with the ENDF sometimes providing internal security support; the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) report to the Prime Minister s Office note 2: the regional governments control regional security forces, including "special" paramilitary forces, which generally operate independently from the federal government and in some cases operate as regional defense forces maintaining national borders; in April 2023, the federal government ordered the integration of these regional special forces into the EFP or ENDF; in some cases, the regional governments have maintained former members of the special forces for crowd control/Adma Bitena as a separate unit within their security structures; local militias also operate across the country in loose and varying coordination with regional security and police forces, the ENDF, and the EFP note 3: in 2018, Ethiopia established a Republican Guard military unit as a separate command operationally under the Office of the Prime Minister and administratively accountable to the Ministry of Defense; it is responsible for protecting senior officials and government institutions and conducting some military operations

Military and security service personnel strengths

available information varies widely; estimated 150-300,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)

Military deployments

1,500 South Sudan (UNMISS); estimated to have as many as 10,000 troops Somalia (approximately 2,500 under the AU; the remainder under a bilateral agreement with the Somali Government) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the ENDF's inventory has traditionally been comprised of Russian, Soviet, and Eastern Bloc armaments; it suffered considerable equipment losses during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict; in more recent years, Ethiopia has diversified its arms sources to include such suppliers as China, T rkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE; Ethiopia's defense industry produces small arms, as well as armored vehicles under license (2025)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; 24-month service obligation; no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2025)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 23,092,496/female 22,765,882) 15-64 years: 58% (male 34,175,328/female 34,536,238) 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,794,269/female 2,186,085)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

29.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 14.1% (2016) women married by age 18: 40.3% (2016) men married by age 18: 5% (2016)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

21.2% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

66.3% (2019 est.)

Death rate

5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 71.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 65.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.1 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 42.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 51.5% of population (2022 est.) urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 57.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 48.5% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 16.7% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Oromo 35.8%, Amhara 24.1%, Somali 7.2%, Tigray 5.7%, Sidama 4.1%, Guragie 2.6%, Welaita 2.3%, Afar 2.2%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 13.5% (2022 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.86 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

3.2% of GDP (2021) 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 37.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Oromo (official regional working language) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official regional working language) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official regional working language) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official regional working language) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (2007 est.) major-language sample(s): Kitaaba Addunyaa Waan Qabataamaatiif - Kan Madda Odeeffannoo bu uraawaatiif baay ee barbaachisaa ta e. (Oromo) የአለም እውነታ መጽሐፍ፣ ለመሠረታዊ መረጃ እጅግ አስፈላጊ የሆነ ምንጭ። (Amharic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.) male: 65.4 years female: 70 years

Literacy

total population: 60.5% (2022 est.) male: 71% (2022 est.) female: 50% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

5.461 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

195 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 20.6 years (2025 est.) male: 20.2 years female: 20.7 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.3 years (2019 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Nationality

noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian

Net migration rate

-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.5% (2016)

Physician density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

total: 121,372,632 (2025 est.) male: 60,461,406 female: 60,911,226

Population distribution

highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

2.34% (2025 est.)

Religions

Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 50.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 49.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 4.5% (2025 est.) male: 7.7% (2025 est.) female: 1.4% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.77 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Key space-program milestones

2015 - established Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Ethiopia RS Satellite or ETRSS-1) built and launched by China 2020 - second RS satellite (ET-SMART-RSS) built with assistance from and launched by China; began construction of satellite manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility 2021 - established a multi-mission ground control station for RS satellites 2024 - declared second satellite ground station operational 2025 - announced plans to launch third RS satellite (ETRSS-02) in partnership with China in 2026

Space agency/agencies

Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute (ESSGI; formed in 2022 from the joining of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute or ESSTI and the Ethiopian Geospatial Information Institute or EGII) (2025)

Space program overview

focuses on acquiring and operating satellites, as well as conducting research; jointly builds satellites with foreign partners, and operates and exploits remote sensing (RS) satellites; developing the ability to manufacture satellites and their payloads; involved in astronomy and the construction of space observatories; works with a variety of countries, including China, France, India, Russia, and multiple African countries, particularly Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda; shares RS data with neighboring countries (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

al-Shabaab note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 1,071,881 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,134,600 (2024 est.)

Airports

58 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ET

Heliports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 12 (2023) by type: general cargo 10, oil tanker 2

Railways

total: 659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) standard gauge: 659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge note: electric railway with redundant power supplies; under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia and managed by a Chinese contractor