Share of the population living in cities in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of the population living in cities was 24.6 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
24.6
World rank
161st
of 236 countries
All-time high
24.6
in 2020
All-time low
2.4
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Share of the population living in cities in Ethiopia, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population living in cities in Ethiopia is 24.6, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population living in cities in Ethiopia peaked at 24.6 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.4, in 1950.
Ethiopia ranks 161st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population living in cities in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.4 | — |
| 1955 | 3.37 | +40.2% |
| 1960 | 4.35 | +29.3% |
| 1965 | 6.21 | +42.6% |
| 1970 | 8.94 | +43.9% |
| 1975 | 14.56 | +62.8% |
| 1980 | 12.73 | -12.5% |
| 1985 | 14.66 | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 17.01 | +16.0% |
| 1995 | 18.87 | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 20.25 | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 18.14 | -10.4% |
| 2010 | 20.29 | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 22.43 | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 24.6 | +9.7% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 24.6 is below the median for low income countries, which is 31.77, 77% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 24.6 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.31, 66% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.89 | 2.4 | 3.37 | 2 |
| 1960s | 5.28 | 4.35 | 6.21 | 2 |
| 1970s | 11.75 | 8.94 | 14.56 | 2 |
| 1980s | 13.7 | 12.73 | 14.66 | 2 |
| 1990s | 17.94 | 17.01 | 18.87 | 2 |
| 2000s | 19.2 | 18.14 | 20.25 | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.36 | 20.29 | 22.43 | 2 |
| 2020s | 24.6 | 24.6 | 24.6 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 158 Central African Republic 25.09 compare
- 159 East Timor 25.02 compare
- 160 Burkina Faso 25 compare
- 162 French Guiana 24 compare
- 163 Montenegro 23.61 compare
- 164 Niger 23.51 compare
More population data for Ethiopia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.229 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.484 (2100)
- Population density 325.45 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 23.22 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.484 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 2.06 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population living in cities in Ethiopia?
- Share of the population living in cities in Ethiopia was 24.6 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population living in cities recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.6 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population living in cities recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4 in 1950.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of the population living in cities?
- Ethiopia ranks 161st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population living in cities rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population living in cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).