Ethiopia

Africa
Addis Ababa

Population

121.37M

Area

1,104,300 km²

GDP

$126.77B

GDP Per Capita

$2,900

Quick FAQs

Region

Africa

Capital

Addis Ababa

ISO 3166

et

Government Type

federal parliamentary republic

Language

Oromo (official regional working language) 33.8%, Learn more

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About Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a country located in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan, covering an area of approximately 1.1 million square kilometers. As of 2025, Ethiopia has a population of over 132 million, making it the second-most populous country in Africa, with Amharic as the federal working language. The country features diverse geography including the Ethiopian Highlands, Great Rift Valley, and lowlands, experiencing varied climate by altitude. Addis Ababa serves as the capital.

Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and services. The country is the birthplace of coffee, which remains a key export alongside flowers, textiles, and leather products. Ethiopia has invested heavily in infrastructure including railways, dams, and industrial parks as part of its development strategy. Despite significant economic progress, Ethiopia faces challenges including ethnic tensions, periodic drought, and political instability. The country continues to play a central role in African diplomacy as host of the African Union.

Geography & Environment

Geographic Location

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Geographic Coordinate

8 00 N, 38 00 E

Geographic Area

1,104,300 km²

Climate

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Terrain

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Natural Hazards

highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural Resources

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Geography Note

N/A

People & Society

Ave. Life Expentancy at Birth

67.6 years

Urbanization

23.20%

Population Growth Rate

2.34% (2025 est.)

Literacy Rate

N/A

Health Expendeture

N/A

Education Expenditure

N/A

Languages

Oromo (official regional working language) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official regional working language) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official regional working language) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official regional working language) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (2007 est.)

Religions

Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.)

Government

Country Name

conventional long form

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

conventional short form

Ethiopia

local long form

YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik

local short form

Ityop'iya

former

Abyssinia, Italian East Africa

abbreviation

FDRE

etymology

the country name derives from the ancient Greek word used to describe the inhabitants, aithiops, meaning "burnt appearance"

Economy

Economic Overview

low-income, fast-growing Horn of Africa economy; widespread poverty and food insecurity worsened by conflict and environmental factors; landlocked with tensions over seaport access; development aid supporting reforms to boost private-sector growth and financial stability; challenge of creating jobs for growing labor force

GDP Per Capita

$2,900

Unemployment Rate

N/A

Population Below Poverty Line

23.5% (2015 est.)

Industries

food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement

Agricultural Products

maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023)

Location

Organizations Making an Impact in Ethiopia

Discover the passionate teams and non-profits currently driving progress in this space
Find Nonprofits
3 nonprofit found (3 total)

Elevate Ethiopia

Hermitage, TN, Ethiopia
IEN
Causes:
  • Human Services

DEBO Alliance for Children

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ethiopia
IEN
Causes:
  • Human Services

Alliance Care Now

McLean, VA, Ethiopia
IEN
Causes:
  • Human Services
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