Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 117.69 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population density in Ethiopia, 1993–2024
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 117.69 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 32 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 117.69 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 53.71 people per sq. km of land area, in 1993.
That places Ethiopia 92nd out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 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 | 67.75 people per sq. km of land area | -8.2% |
| 2005 | 69.79 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 71.86 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 74 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 76.18 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 78.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 80.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 82.96 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 85.32 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 87.67 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 90.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 92.5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 95.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 97.66 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 100.33 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 103.07 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 105.91 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 108.8 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 111.7 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 114.69 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 117.69 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 117.69 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for low income countries, which is 65.39 people per sq. km of land area, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 117.69 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.86 people per sq. km of land area, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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 | 72.03 people per sq. km of land area | 67.41 people per sq. km of land area | 78.37 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.52 people per sq. km of land area | 80.63 people per sq. km of land area | 103.07 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 111.76 people per sq. km of land area | 105.91 people per sq. km of land area | 117.69 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 89 Azerbaijan 123.45 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 90 Sierra Leone 119.73 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 91 Poland 119.45 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 93 Egypt 117.07 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 94 Portugal 116.75 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 95 Slovakia 112.77 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 117.69 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, 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 117.69 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- 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 92nd out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- 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.