Africa · Eastern Africa
Ethiopia Demographics
Ethiopia has a large and fast-growing population, a young age profile, a fertility rate of 3.9 births per woman in 2024, and a settlement pattern that remains mostly rural.
Headline indicators use World Bank WDI, UN World Population Prospects 2024-based series, UNdata, and Worldometer tables derived from UN WPP 2024 for extended historical and projection rows.
Last updated: September 27, 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population, mid-year estimate | 135,472,051 | 2025 | World Bank WDI, UN WPP population series |
| Total population, latest WDI country page value | 132,059,767 | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Annual population growth | 2.6% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Net migration | +24,054 | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Median age | 19.1 years | 2025 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| Total fertility rate | 3.9 births per woman | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, total | 67.6 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, male | 64.4 years | 2024 | Destatis country profile, citing World Bank WDI |
| Life expectancy at birth, female | 71.0 years | 2024 | Destatis country profile, citing World Bank WDI |
| Female-male life expectancy gap | 6.6 years | 2024 | Calculated from WDI male and female values shown by Destatis |
| Population density | 114 people per sq. km of land area | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Urban population share | 24.11% | 2025 | World Bank WDI, based on UN World Urbanization Prospects and national definitions |
| Urban population count | 32,661,899 | 2025 | World Bank WDI urban population series |
| Population aged 0-14 | 38.78% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 15-64 | 57.92% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Population aged 65 and older | 3.30% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Age dependency ratio | 74.0 dependents per 100 working-age people | 2023 | Our World in Data, based on UN WPP |
| Births | 4,106,000 | 2023 | Our World in Data, based on UN WPP |
| Deaths | 767,000 | 2023 | Our World in Data, based on UN WPP |
| Under-5 mortality | 44.5 deaths per 1,000 live births | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
Table analysis
- The 2025 WDI population value is 135,472,051, while the latest WDI country page headline still shows the 2024 value of 132,059,767.
- The total fertility rate is 3.9 births per woman in 2024.
- The 2025 WDI age shares place 38.78% of the population at ages 0-14 and 3.30% at ages 65 and older.
- World Bank WDI reports an urban population share of 24.11% in 2025; the extended UN-based table uses a different urbanization series.
Population Trend
Ethiopia Population Trend
UN WPP 2024-based mid-year population values at selected years
Source: Worldometer table derived from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Values are mid-year population estimates or current-year estimates depending on year.
Trend analysis
- The selected series rises from 19.4 million in 1955 to 135.5 million in 2025.
- The 2000 to 2025 increase is 68.1 million people using the same UN-based table.
- The chart uses estimates only through 2025; longer-range projections are kept in a separate projection section.
Extended Population History
| Year | Population | Yearly % change | Yearly change | Net migration | Median age | Fertility rate | Density | Urban pop % | Urban population | World share | World population | Global rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 138,902,185 | 2.53% | 3,430,134 | 27,298 | 19.3 | 3.72 | 139 | 22.9% | 31,809,855 | 1.67% | 8,300,678,395 | 10 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2025 | 135,472,051 | 2.58% | 3,412,284 | 24,054 | 19.1 | 3.81 | 135 | 22.5% | 30,487,323 | 1.65% | 8,231,613,070 | 10 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2024 | 132,059,767 | 2.62% | 3,368,075 | 30,069 | 18.9 | 3.91 | 132 | 22.1% | 29,204,015 | 1.62% | 8,161,972,572 | 10 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2023 | 128,691,692 | 2.64% | 3,307,405 | -11,996 | 18.7 | 3.99 | 129 | 21.7% | 27,959,894 | 1.59% | 8,091,734,930 | 11 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2022 | 125,384,287 | 2.68% | 3,233,308 | -11,996 | 18.5 | 4.08 | 125 | 21.3% | 26,755,042 | 1.56% | 8,021,407,192 | 11 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2020 | 118,917,671 | 2.74% | 3,010,107 | 38,866 | 18.1 | 4.27 | 119 | 20.6% | 24,463,423 | 1.51% | 7,887,001,292 | 12 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2015 | 103,867,135 | 2.78% | 2,665,724 | 62,785 | 17.0 | 4.53 | 104 | 18.7% | 19,403,087 | 1.39% | 7,470,491,872 | 13 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2010 | 90,538,514 | 2.93% | 2,434,209 | 80,213 | 15.8 | 5.28 | 91 | 16.8% | 15,189,140 | 1.29% | 7,021,732,148 | 13 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2005 | 78,367,470 | 3.06% | 2,191,195 | -44,421 | 15.1 | 6.19 | 78 | 15.4% | 12,046,373 | 1.19% | 6,586,970,132 | 16 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 2000 | 67,411,494 | 3.22% | 1,974,832 | -49,891 | 15.1 | 6.65 | 67 | 14.5% | 9,807,289 | 1.09% | 6,171,702,993 | 16 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1995 | 57,537,335 | 3.86% | 1,985,516 | 91,727 | 15.5 | 7.00 | 58 | 13.8% | 7,924,483 | 1.00% | 5,758,878,982 | 21 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1990 | 47,609,755 | 3.63% | 1,553,524 | 296,014 | 15.8 | 7.20 | 48 | 12.7% | 6,069,048 | 0.89% | 5,327,803,110 | 23 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1985 | 39,842,136 | 2.96% | 1,082,724 | 157,476 | 15.8 | 7.34 | 40 | 11.7% | 4,673,050 | 0.82% | 4,868,943,465 | 24 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1980 | 34,428,514 | 1.65% | 541,052 | -903,529 | 15.7 | 7.29 | 34 | 10.7% | 3,671,221 | 0.77% | 4,447,606,236 | 26 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1975 | 31,723,252 | 2.65% | 778,825 | -42,540 | 16.2 | 7.08 | 32 | 9.7% | 3,080,708 | 0.78% | 4,070,735,277 | 26 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1970 | 27,829,128 | 2.74% | 703,703 | 8,589 | 17.0 | 6.78 | 28 | 8.8% | 2,440,181 | 0.75% | 3,694,683,794 | 26 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1965 | 24,310,612 | 2.61% | 586,784 | 16,348 | 17.5 | 6.63 | 24 | 7.8% | 1,897,839 | 0.73% | 3,334,533,703 | 26 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1960 | 21,376,693 | 1.94% | 391,385 | 1,696 | 17.5 | 6.51 | 21 | 6.7% | 1,425,096 | 0.71% | 3,015,470,894 | 27 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
| 1955 | 19,419,770 | 1.91% | 349,872 | -10,392 | 17.3 | 6.46 | 19 | 5.6% | 1,085,996 | 0.71% | 2,740,213,792 | 26 | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based table |
Table analysis
- The table uses 5-year intervals for older periods and annual rows for recent years where the source page exposes them.
- Population density rises from 19 people per sq. km in 1955 to 135 people per sq. km in 2025 in this UN-based table.
- Fertility declines from 6.65 in 2000 to 3.81 in 2025 in the same table.
- Urban share in this extended table is not the same as the World Bank WDI 2025 urban share; urban indicators are source-sensitive.
- The 2026 row is a current-year mid-year estimate from a UN-based secondary table, not a census count.
Population Growth and Migration
Population Growth Rate
Selected years from the UN WPP-based extended table
Source: Worldometer table derived from UN World Population Prospects 2024. Older rows show equivalent annual change over the preceding period.
Trend analysis
- The selected series peaks at 3.86% in 1995.
- The 2025 growth value in the extended table is 2.58%, close to the World Bank WDI headline of 2.6%.
- Growth remains positive across all selected rows shown in the table.
Net Migration Balance
Recent net migration values from WDI and UN-based table rows
Source: World Bank WDI and Worldometer UN WPP 2024-based table. Net migration is immigrants minus emigrants; values may be averaged or model-estimated depending on dataset.
Data analysis
- The recent series includes both negative and positive net migration values.
- The lowest value shown is -11,996 in 2022 and 2023.
- The 2025 WDI value is +24,054, indicating positive net migration in that source year.
Broad Age Structure
Population by Broad Age Group
World Bank WDI age shares, 2025
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators, 2025.
| Age group | Share | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 38.78% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| 15-64 | 57.92% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| 65+ | 3.30% | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
Age structure analysis
- The 0-14 group accounts for 38.78% of the population in 2025.
- The 15-64 group is the largest broad age group at 57.92%.
- The 65+ share is 3.30%, leaving a wide gap between the youngest and oldest broad age groups.
Fertility and Life Expectancy
Fertility Rate
Total fertility rate, 2024
Source: World Bank WDI for Ethiopia fertility, 2024.
Chart analysis
- Ethiopia’s 2024 fertility rate is 3.9 births per woman.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life expectancy at birth for men, total population, and women
Source: Total value from World Bank WDI 2024; male and female values from Destatis country profile citing World Bank WDI 2024.
Data analysis
- Female life expectancy is 71.0 years, compared with 64.4 years for males.
- The female-male gap is 6.6 years using the values shown in the chart.
- The total population value is 67.6 years in the 2024 WDI series.
Urban Population
Urban Population Share
Share of the population living in areas classified as urban
Source: World Bank WDI, based on UN World Urbanization Prospects and national urban definitions, 2025.
| Year | Urban share | Urban population | Definition note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24.11% | 32,661,899 | National urban definitions applied in the World Bank WDI / UN WUP series | World Bank WDI / UN World Urbanization Prospects |
Data analysis
- The WDI urban series reports 24.11% urban population in 2025.
- The corresponding urban population count is 32,661,899.
- Urban population remains a minority of the national population under the source definition.
Births, Deaths and Natural Change
| Year | Births | Deaths | Natural change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,106,000 | 767,000 | 3,339,000 | Our World in Data, based on UN WPP |
Table analysis
- Reported births exceed deaths by 3.339 million in 2023 using the shown source values.
- The natural change value is calculated here as births minus deaths from the same source row.
- This table does not include registered civil vital statistics; it uses model-based UN WPP values presented by Our World in Data.
Population Projection
UN Medium-Variant Projection
Projected population under the UN WPP 2024 medium variant
Source: Worldometer UN WPP 2024-based forecast table for 2030-2050 and UNdata WPP 2024 for 2100.
| Year | Projected population | Yearly % change | Yearly change | Net migration assumption | Median age | Fertility rate | Density | Urban pop % | Urban population | Scenario | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 152,855,357 | 2.44% | 3,476,661 | 32,379 | 20.2 | 3.43 | 153 | 24.5% | 37,495,720 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based forecast table |
| 2035 | 170,532,954 | 2.21% | 3,535,519 | 53,159 | 21.1 | 3.13 | 171 | 26.7% | 45,488,077 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based forecast table |
| 2040 | 188,450,902 | 2.02% | 3,583,590 | 61,367 | 22.1 | 2.90 | 188 | 28.9% | 54,394,212 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based forecast table |
| 2045 | 206,673,639 | 1.86% | 3,644,547 | 35,013 | 23.3 | 2.72 | 207 | 31.0% | 64,087,447 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based forecast table |
| 2050 | 225,021,875 | 1.72% | 3,669,647 | 19,219 | 24.6 | 2.55 | 225 | 33.1% | 74,536,815 | UN WPP 2024 medium variant | Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based forecast table |
| 2100 | 367,289,596 | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available | UN WPP 2024 medium variant | UNdata, World Population Prospects 2024 |
Projection analysis
- The medium-variant table projects 225.0 million people in 2050.
- The 2030 to 2050 increase in the table is 72.2 million people.
- The projected growth rate declines from 2.44% in 2030 to 1.72% in 2050.
- The 2100 medium-variant population value is 367.3 million.
Largest Urban Areas
| Rank | Urban area | Population estimate | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addis Ababa | 6,705,705 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 2 | Adama | 584,854 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 3 | Bahir Dar | 498,735 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 4 | Dire Dawa | 483,674 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 5 | Shashamane | 452,945 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 6 | Hawassa | 444,909 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 7 | Bishoftu | 442,776 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 8 | Jijiga | 422,225 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 9 | Gonder | 392,767 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
| 10 | Dilla | 360,925 | 2025 | Worldometer urban area table |
Table analysis
- Addis Ababa is the largest urban area in the shown table, with 6,705,705 people in the 2025 estimate.
- The second-largest listed urban area, Adama, is below 600,000 in the same source table.
- Urban area estimates are not the same as municipal census counts and may include surrounding urban agglomeration areas.
Demographic Overview
The WDI/UN-based series places Ethiopia at 135.5 million in 2025, with positive annual growth near 2.6%.
World Bank WDI reports 38.78% of the population aged 0-14 in 2025 and 3.30% aged 65+.
The 2024 fertility rate is 3.9 births per woman.
World Bank WDI reports an urban population share of 24.11% in 2025, equal to 32,661,899 people.
Net migration is small relative to total population size; WDI reports +24,054 in 2025.
The UN medium variant projects 225.0 million people in 2050 and 367.3 million in 2100.
Data Sources and Methodology
Headline population, growth, fertility, life expectancy, net migration, age shares, density and urban indicators use World Bank WDI where available. Extended population history and projection columns use UN WPP 2024-based tables, while the 2100 population value comes from UNdata WPP 2024.
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| World Bank World Development Indicators | 2024-2025 values shown by indicator | Population, population growth, net migration, fertility, life expectancy, population density, broad age shares, urban share, urban population, under-5 mortality |
| UNdata, World Population Prospects 2024 | 2024 revision | 2100 medium-variant projection value and methodology distinction between estimates and projections |
| Worldometer, UN WPP 2024-based population table | 2026 public table using UN WPP 2024 medium-fertility variant | Extended population history table, forecast table columns for 2030-2050, median age series, rank, density and city table |
| Our World in Data population profile | 2026 profile based on UN population data | 2023 births, 2023 deaths and age dependency ratio values |
| Destatis Statistical Country Profile: Ethiopia | May 2026 profile, citing World Bank WDI | Male and female life expectancy values for 2024 |
Method note
- World Bank WDI supplies the current headline indicators and 2025 broad age shares.
- UN WPP 2024-based tables supply the extended historical and projection series.
- Source years are shown alongside each indicator where the latest available year differs.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: Ethiopia demographic values can differ across sources because mid-year population estimates, model-based series and projection scenarios use different reference periods and definitions. World Bank WDI is used for the current headline indicators, while UN WPP-based tables provide the extended historical and future series. Urban population follows the source definition for each series.
FAQ
What is Ethiopia’s population?
World Bank WDI reports 135,472,051 people in 2025.
How young is Ethiopia’s population?
World Bank WDI reports 38.78% of the population at ages 0-14 and 3.30% at ages 65 and older in 2025.
What is Ethiopia’s fertility rate?
The World Bank WDI total fertility rate is 3.9 births per woman in 2024.
What share of Ethiopia’s population is urban?
World Bank WDI reports an urban population share of 24.11% in 2025.