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Ethiopia
2025 Edition — sovereign
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2025
Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 566,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Broadcast media
[time series]
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
[time series]
.et
Internet users
[time series]
percent of population: 17% (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 766,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 85.9 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2024 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
[time series]
on food: 37.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget
[time series]
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
[time series]
-$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
[time series]
$25.426 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
$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
[time series]
coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
[time series]
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)
[time series]
$126.773 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
31.1 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
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
[time series]
$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
[time series]
refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, raw sugar, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
[time series]
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
[time series]
9.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
[time series]
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
21% (2024 est.) 30.2% (2023 est.) 33.9% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
[time series]
54.47 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line
[time series]
23.5% (2015 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
[time series]
31.4% of GDP (2019 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$380.895 billion (2024 est.) $354.926 billion (2023 est.) $332.97 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
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
[time series]
$2,900 (2024 est.) $2,800 (2023 est.) $2,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances
[time series]
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
[time series]
$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
[time series]
3.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
[time series]
3.4% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 3.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 5.4% (2024 est.) male: 4% (2024 est.) female: 7.2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
Coal
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
electrification - total population: 55% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 94% electrification - rural areas: 43%
Electricity generation sources
[time series]
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
[time series]
2.366 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Natural gas
[time series]
proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Petroleum
[time series]
refined petroleum consumption: 102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 428,000 barrels (2021 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions
[time series]
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
[time series]
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Environmental issues
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
23.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
122 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 51.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 9.687 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.533 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.8% (2022 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
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
[time series]
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Climate
[time series]
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Coastline
[time series]
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
[time series]
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,550 m lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m mean elevation: 1,330 m
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Geography - note
[time series]
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
[time series]
1,814 sq km (2020)
Land boundaries
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Major aquifers
[time series]
Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Major lakes (area sq km)
[time series]
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)
[time series]
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)
[time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Map references
[time series]
Africa
Maritime claims
[time series]
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
[time series]
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
[time series]
small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
Population distribution
[time series]
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
[time series]
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
federal parliamentary republic
Independence
[time series]
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
[time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
civil law system
Legislative branch
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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)
[time series]
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
[time series]
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)
[time series]
green, yellow, red
National heritage
[time series]
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
[time series]
Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by government)
Political parties
[time series]
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
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
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 and Security
Military - note
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
available information varies widely; estimated 150-300,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)
Military deployments
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
29.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Child marriage
[time series]
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
[time series]
21.2% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
[time series]
66.3% (2019 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 16.7% national budget (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
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
[time series]
1.86 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
[time series]
3.2% of GDP (2021) 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.) male: 65.4 years female: 70 years
Literacy
[time series]
total population: 60.5% (2022 est.) male: 71% (2022 est.) female: 50% (2022 est.)
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
5.461 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
195 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 20.6 years (2025 est.) male: 20.2 years female: 20.7 years
Mother's mean age at first birth
[time series]
19.3 years (2019 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian
Net migration rate
[time series]
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
4.5% (2016)
Physician density
[time series]
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Population
[time series]
total: 121,372,632 (2025 est.) male: 60,461,406 female: 60,911,226
Population distribution
[time series]
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
[time series]
2.34% (2025 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
total: 4.5% (2025 est.) male: 7.7% (2025 est.) female: 1.4% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
3.77 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Space
Key space-program milestones
[time series]
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
[time series]
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
[time series]
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)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
[time series]
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
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
refugees: 1,071,881 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,134,600 (2024 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
58 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
ET
Heliports
[time series]
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 12 (2023) by type: general cargo 10, oil tanker 2
Railways
[time series]
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