CapitalAddis Ababa
Population121,372,632
Area1,104,300 km²
GDP per capita$2,900
LanguagesOromo, Amharic, Somali, Tigrigna, Sidamo, Wolaytta, Gurage, Afar, Hadiyya, Gamo, Gedeo, Opuuo, Kafa, other, English
Currencybirr
Life Expectancy67.7 yr
Governmentfederal parliamentary republic
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.
Geography
Area
land
1,096,570 sq km
water
7,730 sq km
total
1,104,300 sq km
Climate
tropical monsoon climate characterized by extensive topographic variations
Terrain
elevated plateau featuring a central mountain range, separated by the Great Rift Valley
Land use
other
42.2% (2023 est.)
forest
23.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
34.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Eastern Africa, to the west of Somalia
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
Danakil Depression -125 m
highest point
Ras Dejen 4,550 m
mean elevation
1,330 m
Irrigated land
1,814 sq km (2020)
Major aquifers
Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
5,925 km
border countries
Borders: Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
The Great Rift Valley is geologically active, prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; droughts occur frequently
volcanism: volcanic activity prevalent in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m) is the most active volcano in the nation; Dabbahu became active in 2005, necessitating evacuations; historically significant volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir
Geography - note
the world's most populous landlocked nation; the Blue Nile, the primary headstream of the Nile by water volume, originates in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) located in the northwest region of Ethiopia
Natural resources
limited deposits of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, and hydropower resources
Area - comparative
slightly less than double the area of Texas
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 38 00 E
Population distribution
the highest population density is observed in the northern and central highlands, particularly surrounding the capital city of Addis Ababa; the eastern and southeastern regions are sparsely populated, as depicted in this population distribution map
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Lake Turkana (jointly with Kenya) - 6,400 sq km; Abhe Bid Hayk/Abhe Bad (jointly with Djibouti) - 780 sq km;
fresh water lake(s)
Lake Tana - 3,600 sq km; Abaya Hayk - 1,160 sq km; Ch'amo Hayk - 550 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Source of the Blue Nile river (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 km
note: [s] following a country name indicates river source; [m] following a country name indicates river mouth
People & Society
Literacy
male
71% (2022 est.)
female
50% (2022 est.)
total population
60.5% (2022 est.)
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.)
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.
Religions
Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (estimate from 2016)
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
total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.82 male(s)/female
Birth rate
29.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
20.2 years
total
20.6 years (2025 est.)
female
20.7 years
Population
male
60,461,406
total
121,372,632 (2025 est.)
female
60,911,226
Nationality
noun
Ethiopian(s)
adjective
Ethiopian
Tobacco use
male
7.7% (2025 est.)
total
4.5% (2025 est.)
female
1.4% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
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.)
Child marriage
men married by age 18
5% (2016)
women married by age 15
14.1% (2016)
women married by age 18
40.3% (2016)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
71.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
65.8 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
17.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
5.9 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.77 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 51.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 57.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 48.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
16.7% national budget (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
37.4 deaths/1,000 live births
total
31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
2.34% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.86 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the greatest concentration of population is in the northern and central highlands, especially in the area surrounding the capital, Addis Ababa; in contrast, the extreme eastern and southeastern regions have a low population density, as illustrated in this population distribution map
Life expectancy at birth
male
65.4 years
female
70 years
total population
67.7 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
195 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 50.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 49.2% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
1.16 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.)
Major urban areas - population
5.461 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
4.5% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
19.3 years (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
66.3% (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
21.2% (2019 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical monsoon characterized by significant topographic variations
Land use
other
42.2% (2023 est.)
forest
23.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
34.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
143.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
356.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
1,108.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
1,948.6 kt (2019-2021 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.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; excessive grazing; soil degradation; desertification; decline in biodiversity; water scarcity in certain regions due to water-intensive agricultural practices and inadequate management; industrial pollutants and pesticides leading to air, water, and soil contamination
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.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
23.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
122 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Waste, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Government
Flag
description: consists of three equal horizontal stripes of green (top), yellow, and red, with a light blue circle at the center; within the circle is a yellow pentagram with individual yellow rays extending from each angle between the points
meaning: green symbolizes hope and the fertility of the land, yellow represents justice and harmony, and red signifies sacrifice and valor; the blue circle denotes peace, while the pentagram embodies the unity and equality of the Ethiopian populace
history: the emblem placed at the center of the current flag was introduced in 1996.
Capital
name
Addis Ababa
etymology
the term in Amharic translates to "new flower;" the new capital city was named by Empress TAITU in 1887
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
9 02 N, 38 42 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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 constitutions; the most recent was drafted in June 1994, adopted on 8 December 1994, and came into effect on 21 August 1995.
amendment process
proposals submitted for consideration require approval from a two-thirds majority in either house of Parliament or a majority from one-third of the State Councils; any amendments aside from those concerning constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as the initiation or modification of the constitution, necessitate a two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and a majority vote from two-thirds of the State Councils; amendments impacting rights and freedoms and procedural changes require a two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and a majority vote from all State Councils.
Country name
former
Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
etymology
the name of the country originates from the ancient Greek term aithiops, which means "burnt appearance."
abbreviation
FDRE
local long form
YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form
Ityop'iya
conventional long form
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form
Ethiopia
Independence
Ethiopia stands as the oldest independent nation in Africa and one of the oldest globally, with a history spanning at least 2,000 years; its roots can be traced back to the Aksumite Kingdom, which emerged in the first century B.C.
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges)
subordinate courts
federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (which mirror the federal structure); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts.
judge selection and term of office
the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges are nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member entity led by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges remain in their positions until they reach retirement age at 60.
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
chief of state
President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024)
election results
2021: SAHLE-WORK Zewde was reelected as president during a joint session of Parliament, with a vote tally of 659 (unanimous); ABIY was confirmed as Prime Minister by the House of Peoples' Representatives on 4 October 2021.
head of government
Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018)
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/appointment process
the president is indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a term of 6 years (eligible for a second term); the prime minister is appointed by the majority party following legislative elections.
National holiday
Derg Downfall Day (the defeat of the MENGISTU regime), observed on 28 May (1991).
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)
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
Legislative branch
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia).
history
adopted 1992
lyrics/music
DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
National symbol(s)
Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue background (endorsed by the government).
National coat of arms
the coat of arms, adopted in 1996, showcases the national symbol, a pentagram; the blue circle signifies peace, while the pentagram reflects the unity and equality of the Ethiopian populace.
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.
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Peoples' Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
547 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
6/21/2021 to 9/30/2021
expected date of next election
June 2026
percentage of women in chamber
41.9%
parties elected and seats per party
Prosperity Party (448); Other (22)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
House of the Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
153 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/4/2021
expected date of next election
October 2026
percentage of women in chamber
29.7%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 587-0195
chancery
3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 364-1200
chief of mission
Ambassador BINALF Andualem Ashenef (since 25 February 2025)
consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://ethiopianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[251] 111-24-24-01
embassy
Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone
[251] 111-30-60-00
mailing address
2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20521-2030.
chief of mission
Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://et.usembassy.gov/
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)
International law organization participation
has not presented a declaration regarding ICJ jurisdiction; is a non-party state to the ICCt.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$8.808 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$12.49 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$9.496 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$10.971 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$10.865 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$20.859 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$24.187 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$22.951 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metal processing, cement
Labor force
54.47 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2019
31.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.33% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
birr (ETB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019
29.07 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
34.927 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
43.734 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
51.756 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
54.601 (2023 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$25.426 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
economy in the Horn of Africa characterized by low income and rapid growth; prevalent poverty and food insecurity exacerbated by conflict and environmental challenges; landlocked status with disputes regarding access to seaports; development assistance aimed at facilitating reforms to enhance private sector growth and financial stability; significant challenge in generating employment for an expanding labor force
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.5% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
3.4% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 12%, China 10%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 26%, Djibouti 16%, India 7%, Kuwait 7%, Saudi Arabia 6% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$2,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
6.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
7.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023)
Exports - commodities
coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, raw sugar, cars (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
-$4.507 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$5.16 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$4.788 billion (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
3.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$126.773 billion (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
80.2% (2024 est.)
government consumption
5.5% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
20.5% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
5.6% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-11.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
23.5% (2015 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
37.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
33.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
30.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
21% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
9.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$332.97 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$354.926 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$380.895 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
4% (2024 est.)
total
5.4% (2024 est.)
female
7.2% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.192 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$2.028 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$3.784 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
25.4% (2024 est.)
services
37.6% (2024 est.)
agriculture
34.9% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
3.5% (2021 est.)
highest 10%
24.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
31.1 (2021 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports
1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
456,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
1.653 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
crude oil estimated reserves
428,000 barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
1.762 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
12.298 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
5.69 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
4.194 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
proven reserves
24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
43%
electrification - urban areas
94%
electrification - total population
55% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.366 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
17% (2021 est.)
Broadcast media
In 2023, there are 10 public or state broadcasters, 9 public or state radio stations, 13 commercial FM radio stations, 18 commercial television stations, 45 community radio stations, and 5 community television stations.
Internet country code
.et
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.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
566,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation
Airports
58 (2025)
Railways
total
659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
standard gauge
659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Heliports
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
12 (2023)
by type
general cargo 10, oil tanker 2
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ET
Military & Security
Military - note
The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is dedicated to addressing both external threats from neighboring countries and internal challenges posed by various armed groups. Since 1998, the ENDF has participated in numerous conventional and counterinsurgency campaigns, which include border conflicts with Eritrea from 1998 to 2000 and engagements in Somalia between 2006 and 2008, as well as facing internal strife with the Tigray regional state from 2020 to 2022, various insurgent factions, ethnic militias, and the al-Shabaab terrorist organization. As of 2025, the ENDF was actively involved in counterinsurgency efforts targeting anti-government militants in several regions, including the Amhara militia known as Fano and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), along with operations against al-Shabaab in Somalia.
Military deployments
1,500 troops in South Sudan (UNMISS); estimated personnel could reach 10,000 in Somalia (approximately 2,500 under the African Union, with the remaining forces under a bilateral arrangement with the Somali Government) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF; also known as the Federal Defense Force of Ethiopia, FDRE): includes the Army, Air Force, Naval Force, and Defense Cyber Main Directorate (2025)
Military service age and obligation
Individuals aged 18-22 are eligible for voluntary military service; the obligation lasts for 24 months; although there is no mandatory military service, the military reserves the right to conduct callups when necessary, and compliance with such callups is required (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
Historically, the ENDF's arsenal has consisted mainly of armaments from Russia, the Soviet Union, and Eastern Bloc nations; significant equipment losses were incurred during the Tigray conflict from 2020 to 2022. Recently, Ethiopia has broadened its sources for arms, now including suppliers such as China, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE. The Ethiopian defense sector manufactures small arms and produces armored vehicles under license (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
Available data shows considerable variability; the estimated number of active-duty Defense Force personnel ranges from 150,000 to 300,000 (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
al-Shabaab
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
3,134,600 (2024 est.)
refugees
1,071,881 (2024 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
The Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute (ESSGI), established in 2022 through the merger of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) and the Ethiopian Geospatial Information Institute (EGII), is set to advance its initiatives by 2025.
Space program overview
The institute is dedicated to the acquisition and management of satellites along with research endeavors; it collaborates with international partners to develop satellites and actively operates and utilizes remote sensing (RS) satellites. ESSGI is working on enhancing its capacity to produce satellites and their payloads, while also engaging in astronomy and the development of space observatories. Its collaborations extend to various nations, including China, France, India, Russia, and several African nations, notably Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Additionally, it provides remote sensing data to neighboring countries as of 2025.
Key space-program milestones
2015 - The Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center was inaugurated.
2019 - The first remote sensing (RS) satellite, Ethiopia RS Satellite (ETRSS-1), was constructed and launched by China.
2020 - The second RS satellite, ET-SMART-RSS, was built with Chinese support and launched; construction began on a facility for satellite manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing.
2021 - A multi-mission ground control station for RS satellites was established.
2024 - The second satellite ground station was announced as operational.
2025 - Plans were unveiled to launch the third RS satellite (ETRSS-02) in collaboration with China in 2026.
