Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
566,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.et
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
21.94% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2024 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
766,000 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
65 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
85.9 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
37.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$12.49 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$8.808 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$3.033 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$5.772 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$7.567 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$7.905 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$5.929 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$4.611 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$5.025 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$2.719 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$4.507 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$5.16 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$4.788 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$3.791 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$30.621 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$25.426 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
82.6013 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
birr (ETB) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
18.6266 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
19.5858 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
20.5768 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
21.7315 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
23.8661 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
27.4294 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
29.0697 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
34.9272 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
43.7338 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
51.7562 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
54.6009 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
82.6013 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$5.332 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$6.474 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$5.815 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$5.349 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$5.826 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$6.978 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$7.292 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$7.033 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$9.496 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$10.971 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$10.865 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$8.295 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
5.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
5.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
80.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-11.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
20.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
34.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
25.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
37.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,288 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$126.773 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$434.151 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
35.0 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
31.1 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
24.8% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.5% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, raw sugar, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$18.813 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$18.548 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$17.926 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$19.023 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$19.171 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$16.656 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$20.859 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$24.187 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$22.951 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$17.761 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
9.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
9.57% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
6.63% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
10.69% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
13.83% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
15.81% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
20.36% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
26.84% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
33.89% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
30.22% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
21.04% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
54.47 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
23.5% (2015 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
10.73% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
26.94% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
29.01% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
30.10% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
32.53% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
31.45% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$150.119 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$169.575 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$198.234 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$219.854 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$259.535 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$286.210 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$316.145 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$332.97 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$354.926 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$380.895 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
10.39% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
9.43% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
9.56% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
6.82% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
8.36% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
6.06% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.64% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.32% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
6.59% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
7.61% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,485 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,633 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$1,858 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$2,005 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$2,242 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$2,407 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$2,588 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,845 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$3,061 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$833.0 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$1.796 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.087 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$404.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.33% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$7.138 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$3.835 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$3.031 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$3.046 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$3.987 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$2.993 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$3.046 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.644 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.192 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$2.028 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.784 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
3.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.93% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.00% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.94% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.39% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.38% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.36% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
7.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
5.4% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
1.653 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
456,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
43%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
55% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
94%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: geothermal
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
12.298 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
1.762 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
5.69 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
4.194 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.366 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
428,000 barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
3.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
15.092 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
18.519 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Environment: 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
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
34.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
23.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
42.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
1,948.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
1,108.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
143.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
356.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
23.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
122 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
9.687 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
51.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
810 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
23.62% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
6.533 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
12.8% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Geography: Area: land
1,096,570 sq km
Geography: Area: water
7,730 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Ras Dejen 4,550 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Danakil Depression -125 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,330 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
1,814 sq km (2020)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
5,925 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
34.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
23.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
42.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Geography: 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
Geography: Major lakes (area 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;
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: 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
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the name in Amharic means "new flower;" Empress TAITU gave the name to the new capital city in 1887
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
9 02 N, 38 42 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
4 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995
Government: Country name: abbreviation
FDRE
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Ethiopia
Government: Country name: etymology
the country name derives from the ancient Greek word used to describe the inhabitants, aithiops , meaning "burnt appearance"
Government: Country name: former
Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
Government: Country name: local long form
YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
Government: Country name: local short form
Ityop'iya
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
AddisACS@state.gov https://et.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[251] 111-24-24-01
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20521-2030
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[251] 111-30-60-00
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador BINALF Andualem Ashenef (since 25 February 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org https://ethiopianembassy.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 587-0195
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 364-1200
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024)
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
civil law system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Peoples' Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
June 2026
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
6/21/2021 to 9/30/2021
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
547 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Prosperity Party (448); Other (22)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
41.9%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
House of the Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
October 2026
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
10/4/2021
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
153 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
29.7%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1992
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
Government: 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
Government: National color(s)
green, yellow, red
Government: National heritage: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
12 (10 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Government: National symbol(s)
Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by government)
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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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 and Security: 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: 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)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
available information varies widely; estimated 150-300,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: 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, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE; Ethiopia's defense industry produces small arms, as well as armored vehicles under license (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.71% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.68% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.68% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.65% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.58% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.51% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.88% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.65% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
38.7% (male 23,092,496/female 22,765,882)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
58% (male 34,175,328/female 34,536,238)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,794,269/female 2,186,085)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
29.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
5% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
14.1% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
40.3% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
21.2% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
2.80% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.3% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
17.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
71.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
65.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 51.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 57.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 48.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
16.7% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.86 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.70% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
37.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
34.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
71.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
64.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
50% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
71% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
60.46% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
5.461 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
195 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
20.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
20.2 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.3 years (2019 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Ethiopian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
4.5% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
132,059,767 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.58% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
60,911,226
People and Society: Population: male
60,461,406
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 50.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 49.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.82 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
7.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
4.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.91 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
23.62% (2024 est.)
Space: 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: 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: 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)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
al-Shabaab
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
3,134,600 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
1,071,881 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
58 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ET
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 10, oil tanker 2
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
12 (2023)
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.