Urban and rural population in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Urban and rural population was 32.66 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
32.66 million
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
31st
of 236 countries
All-time high
32.66 million
in 2025
All-time low
1.05 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Ethiopia, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Ethiopia stood at 32.66 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 61.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Ethiopia peaked at 32.66 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.05 million, in 1950.
That places Ethiopia 31st out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.05 million | — |
| 1951 | 1.09 million | +3.5% |
| 1952 | 1.13 million | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 1.17 million | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 1.21 million | +3.8% |
| 1955 | 1.26 million | +3.9% |
| 1956 | 1.31 million | +3.9% |
| 1957 | 1.36 million | +3.7% |
| 1958 | 1.40 million | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 1.46 million | +3.9% |
| 1960 | 1.52 million | +4.3% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.24 million | 1.05 million | 1.46 million | 10 |
| 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 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 urban and rural population in Ethiopia?
- Urban and rural population in Ethiopia was 32.66 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 32.66 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.05 million in 1950.
- How does Ethiopia rank for urban and rural population?
- Ethiopia ranks 31st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).