Population density in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Population density was 114.04 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population density in Ethiopia, 1993–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population density in Ethiopia is 114.04 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 30.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Ethiopia peaked at 114.04 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 53.71 people per sq. km of land area, in 1993.
That places Ethiopia 93rd out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Population density in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 53.71 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1994 | 55.61 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 57.54 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 59.47 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 61.4 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 63.36 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 65.37 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 67.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 69.49 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 71.64 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 73.83 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 67.41 people per sq. km of land area | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 69.44 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 71.51 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 73.63 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 75.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 77.98 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 80.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 82.54 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 84.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 87.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 89.6 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 92.04 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 94.56 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 97.17 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 99.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 102.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 105.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 108.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 111.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 114.04 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 59.5 people per sq. km of land area | 53.71 people per sq. km of land area | 65.37 people per sq. km of land area | 7 |
| 2000s | 71.81 people per sq. km of land area | 67.41 people per sq. km of land area | 77.98 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.06 people per sq. km of land area | 80.22 people per sq. km of land area | 102.55 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 109.69 people per sq. km of land area | 105.37 people per sq. km of land area | 114.04 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 90 Sierra Leone 117.21 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 91 Portugal 115.47 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 92 Egypt 115.06 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 94 Slovakia 112.87 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 95 Turkey 110.87 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 96 Austria 110.66 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Ethiopia
- Population in the largest city 18.2% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.044 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 5.96 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 4.84 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 5.96 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 17.07 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Ethiopia?
- Population density in Ethiopia was 114.04 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 114.04 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.71 people per sq. km of land area in 1993.
- How does Ethiopia rank for population density?
- Ethiopia ranks 93rd out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.