Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million was 5.96 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5.96 million
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
49th
of 121 countries
All-time high
5.96 million
in 2025
All-time low
519,177
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Ethiopia, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Ethiopia stood at 5.96 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 53.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Ethiopia peaked at 5.96 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 519,177, in 1960.
That places Ethiopia 49th out of 121 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 519,177 | — |
| 1961 | 533,949 | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 549,163 | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 564,810 | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 580,926 | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 597,455 | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 614,478 | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 631,986 | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 662,915 | +4.9% |
| 1969 | 695,267 | +4.9% |
| 1970 | 729,246 | +4.9% |
| 1971 | 764,885 | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 802,318 | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 841,473 | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 882,597 | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 925,730 | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 971,036 | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 1.02 million | +4.9% |
| 1978 | 1.07 million | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 1.12 million | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 1.18 million | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 1.23 million | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 1.29 million | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 1.36 million | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 1.42 million | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 1.48 million | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 1.53 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 1.59 million | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 1.66 million | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 1.72 million | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 1.79 million | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 1.86 million | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 1.93 million | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 2.01 million | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 2.09 million | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 2.14 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 2.19 million | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 2.23 million | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 2.28 million | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 2.33 million | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 2.38 million | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 2.43 million | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 2.48 million | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 2.53 million | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 2.58 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 2.63 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 2.69 million | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 2.75 million | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 2.87 million | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 3.00 million | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 3.13 million | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 3.26 million | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 3.41 million | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 3.55 million | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 3.71 million | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 3.87 million | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 4.04 million | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 4.22 million | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 4.40 million | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 4.59 million | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 4.79 million | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 5.01 million | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 5.23 million | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 5.46 million | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 5.70 million | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 5.96 million | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 595,013 | 519,177 | 695,267 | 10 |
| 1970s | 912,430 | 729,246 | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.45 million | 1.18 million | 1.72 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.09 million | 1.79 million | 2.33 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.63 million | 2.38 million | 3.00 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.82 million | 3.13 million | 4.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.36 million | 4.79 million | 5.96 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 46 United Arab Emirates 6.62 million compare
- 47 Singapore 6.16 million compare
- 48 Côte d'Ivoire 6.06 million compare
- 50 Israel 5.77 million compare
- 51 Ukraine 5.44 million compare
- 52 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 5.35 million compare
More urban development data for Ethiopia
- Population in the largest city 18.2% (2025)
- Population density 114.04 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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, 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 in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Ethiopia?
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million in Ethiopia was 5.96 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.96 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 519,177 in 1960.
- How does Ethiopia rank for population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million?
- Ethiopia ranks 49th out of 121 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in urban agglomerations of more than one million is the country's population living in metropolitan areas that in 2018 had a population of more than one million people.