Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita was 24.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
24.1%
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
223rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
24.1%
in 2025
All-time low
5.9%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita 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 areas vs. gdp per capita in Ethiopia is 24.1%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 vs. gdp per capita in Ethiopia peaked at 24.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.9%, in 1950.
That places Ethiopia 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas vs. GDP per capita in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.9% | — |
| 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)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2918 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4782 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23.22 million people (2100)
- Population density 325.45 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.229 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.7589 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita in Ethiopia?
- Share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita 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 areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.9% in 1950.
- How does Ethiopia rank for share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita?
- Ethiopia ranks 223rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas vs. gdp per capita 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 areas vs. GDP per capita. 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.