Population of Ethiopia
As of September 2026, the population of Ethiopia is 139.5 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 3 million in the last year, representing a growth of 2.53%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 17.3 years in 2016 to 19.3 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 68.1 years and population density is 138.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.
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Population Growth
The population growth rate of Ethiopia peaked in 1991, reaching around 4.91% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.48% in 2026. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 3.45 million in 2026.
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Life Expectancy
In Ethiopia, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 55.4 years in 2006 to 68.1 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 13 years over the past 2 decades.
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Most populous cities in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has several cities considered medium-sized by their number of inhabitants, but there is also a large one. The most populous city is Addis Ababa, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 3.9 million inhabitants. It is followed by Jijiga, Somali with 483 thousand and Gonder, Amhara with 466 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in Ethiopia:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addis Ababa | 3,860,000 |
| 2 | Jijiga, Somali | 483,000 |
| 3 | Gonder, Amhara | 466,000 |
| 4 | Mek'ele, Tigray | 457,900 |
| 5 | Nazrēt, Oromiya | 456,900 |
| 6 | Warder, Somali | 450,400 |
| 7 | Awasa, Sidama Region | 422,200 |
| 8 | Bahir Dar, Amhara | 350,000 |
| 9 | Dire Dawa | 343,000 |
| 10 | Dessie, Amhara | 270,400 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Jimma, Oromiya | 250,900 |
| 12 | Shashamane, Oromiya | 208,400 |
| 13 | Bishoftu, Oromiya | 207,400 |
| 14 | Sodo, South Ethiopia Regional State | 204,100 |
| 15 | Arba Minch, South Ethiopia Regional State | 201,000 |
| 16 | Hosa’ina, Central Ethiopia Regional State | 188,200 |
| 17 | Dīla, South Ethiopia Regional State | 158,800 |
| 18 | Harar, Harari | 157,000 |
| 19 | Nek’emtē, Oromiya | 156,000 |
| 20 | Ārabī, Somali | 148,933 |