Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 24.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
24.1%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
225th
of 238 countries
All-time high
24.1%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); 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 areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia is 24.1%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 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 areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia peaked at 24.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Ethiopia ranks 225th of 238 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 0.5% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 0.5% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 0.6% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 0.6% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 0.7% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 0.8% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 0.8% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 0.9% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 1.0% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 1.1% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 1.2% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 1.3% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 1.4% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 1.6% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 1.7% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 1.9% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 2.1% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 2.3% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 2.5% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 2.7% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 3.0% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 3.3% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 3.6% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 3.9% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 4.3% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 5.9% | +39.1% |
| 1951 | 6.0% | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 6.1% | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 6.3% | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 6.4% | +1.8% |
| 1955 | 6.5% | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 6.6% | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 6.7% | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 6.8% | +1.9% |
| 1959 | 7.0% | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 7.1% | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 7.2% | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 7.4% | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 7.5% | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 7.7% | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 7.8% | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 8.0% | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 8.1% | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 8.3% | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 8.4% | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 8.6% | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 8.7% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 8.9% | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 9.1% | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 9.2% | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 9.4% | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 9.6% | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 9.8% | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 10.0% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 10.2% | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 10.4% | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 10.6% | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 10.8% | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 11.0% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 11.2% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 11.4% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 11.7% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 11.9% | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 12.2% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 12.5% | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 12.8% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 13.0% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 13.3% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 13.5% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 13.7% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 13.9% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 14.1% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 14.3% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 14.5% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 14.9% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 15.1% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 15.5% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 15.8% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 16.0% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 16.2% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 17.2% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 17.5% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 17.9% | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 18.6% | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 19.0% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 19.5% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 19.9% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 20.3% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 20.8% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 21.6% | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 22.1% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 22.7% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 23.1% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 24.1% | +2.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 24.1% is below the median for low income countries, which is 34.5%, 70% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 24.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44.9%, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1 |
| 1800s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 1810s | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1860s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1870s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1880s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1890s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1920s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1930s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1940s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 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
- 222 Afghanistan 25.9% compare
- 223 Burundi 25.7% compare
- 224 Antigua and Barbuda 24.3% compare
- 226 Micronesia (country) 22.5% compare
- 227 Vanuatu 22.3% compare
- 228 South Sudan 21.7% 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)
- 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)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 4.7 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Ethiopia was 24.1% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); 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 areas projected to 2050 recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Ethiopia ranks 225th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); 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 areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.