Urban population in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Urban population was 32.66 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Ethiopia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 32.66 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 61.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Ethiopia peaked at 32.66 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.52 million, in 1960.
Ethiopia ranks 31st of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.52 million | — |
| 1961 | 1.59 million | +4.4% |
| 1962 | 1.66 million | +4.5% |
| 1963 | 1.73 million | +4.5% |
| 1964 | 1.81 million | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 1.90 million | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 1.98 million | +4.6% |
| 1967 | 2.08 million | +4.6% |
| 1968 | 2.17 million | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 2.28 million | +4.7% |
| 1970 | 2.38 million | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 2.50 million | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 2.61 million | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 2.74 million | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 2.86 million | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 2.99 million | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 3.13 million | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 3.25 million | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 3.37 million | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 3.48 million | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 3.57 million | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 3.73 million | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 3.96 million | +6.0% |
| 1983 | 4.15 million | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 4.34 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 4.55 million | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 4.79 million | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 5.07 million | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 5.39 million | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 5.73 million | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 6.08 million | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 6.48 million | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 6.89 million | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 7.26 million | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 7.63 million | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 7.99 million | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 8.39 million | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 8.79 million | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 9.20 million | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 9.62 million | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 10.06 million | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 10.51 million | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 10.98 million | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 11.48 million | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 11.99 million | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 12.53 million | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 13.09 million | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 13.38 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 14.37 million | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 15.09 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 15.84 million | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 16.64 million | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 17.44 million | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 18.32 million | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 19.24 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 20.20 million | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 21.21 million | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 22.27 million | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 23.42 million | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 24.59 million | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 25.72 million | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 27.00 million | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 28.51 million | +5.6% |
| 2023 | 29.67 million | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 31.20 million | +5.1% |
| 2025 | 32.66 million | +4.7% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 32.66 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 4.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 32.66 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 6.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.87 million | 1.52 million | 2.28 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.93 million | 2.38 million | 3.48 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.53 million | 3.57 million | 5.73 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.83 million | 6.08 million | 9.62 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.35 million | 10.06 million | 15.09 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.92 million | 15.84 million | 24.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.13 million | 25.72 million | 32.66 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More climate change data for Ethiopia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 467.87 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 87,053 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 27,625 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 59,429 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 104.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2,122 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,042 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,650 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 392.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 17.55 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Ethiopia?
- Urban population in Ethiopia was 32.66 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.66 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.52 million in 1960.
- How does Ethiopia rank for urban population?
- Ethiopia ranks 31st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.