Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 24.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ethiopia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ethiopia is 24.1%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ethiopia peaked at 24.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 1950.
Ethiopia ranks 223rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.4% | 5.9% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.7% | 7.1% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.3% | 8.6% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 10.4% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.8% | 12.8% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.9% | 14.9% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.3% | 17.5% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.9% | 21.6% | 24.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 220 Afghanistan 25.9% compare
- 221 Burundi 25.7% compare
- 222 Antigua and Barbuda 24.3% compare
- 224 Micronesia (country) 22.5% compare
- 225 Vanuatu 22.3% compare
- 226 South Sudan 21.7% compare
More population data for Ethiopia
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 325.45 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23.22 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.91 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.91 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 1.01 million people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.91 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 3.99 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 3.74 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ethiopia?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ethiopia was 24.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 1950.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Ethiopia ranks 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.