01
Physical geography
High plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley.
Local timeAddis Ababa ·
Africa / Eastern Africa · Card 019
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a country in Eastern Africa. Its capital is Addis Ababa.
Find Ethiopia
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Addis Ababa
- Languages
- Amharic and other federal/regional languages
- Currency
- Ethiopian birr (ETB)
- Population
- 135.5 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 1,104,300 km²426,372 square miles
- Statehood
- Ancient independent state
Ethiopia in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Addis Ababa; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Amharic is a federal working language. Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya and Afar are also used as federal working languages; regional language arrangements vary.
03
Location
Eastern Africa, west of Somalia.
Flag
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a light blue disk centered on the three bands; on the disk is a yellow pentagram with single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points
History & independence
Ethiopia has a long history of independent statehood. Its forces defeated an Italian invasion at Adwa in 1896. Italy occupied the country from 1936 to 1941; the monarchy was later overthrown in 1974, and a federal republic emerged in the 1990s.
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Victory at the Battle of Adwa
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Italian occupation
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The federal constitution takes effect
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture supports a large share of livelihoods, with coffee a major export. Manufacturing, construction and services also contribute. The landlocked economy relies on trade corridors to neighboring ports.
Industry and production
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people135.52025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27,829,128 | 27.829 |
| 1980 | 34,428,514 | 34.429 |
| 1990 | 47,609,755 | 47.610 |
| 2000 | 67,411,494 | 67.411 |
| 2010 | 90,538,514 | 90.539 |
| 2020 | 118,917,671 | 118.918 |
| 2025 | 135,472,051 | 135.472 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars128.12025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12,715,524,550 | 12.716 |
| 1991 | 11,807,956,564 | 11.808 |
| 1992 | 10,783,913,879 | 10.784 |
| 1993 | 12,201,225,772 | 12.201 |
| 1994 | 12,590,440,553 | 12.590 |
| 1995 | 13,361,921,235 | 13.362 |
| 1996 | 15,022,296,789 | 15.022 |
| 1997 | 15,493,081,577 | 15.493 |
| 1998 | 14,957,309,260 | 14.957 |
| 1999 | 15,729,427,375 | 15.729 |
| 2000 | 16,684,709,708 | 16.685 |
| 2001 | 18,069,758,570 | 18.070 |
| 2002 | 18,343,465,848 | 18.343 |
| 2003 | 17,946,997,565 | 17.947 |
| 2004 | 20,382,872,321 | 20.383 |
| 2005 | 22,791,876,294 | 22.792 |
| 2006 | 25,261,313,884 | 25.261 |
| 2007 | 28,155,292,189 | 28.155 |
| 2008 | 31,192,831,993 | 31.193 |
| 2009 | 33,938,597,624 | 33.939 |
| 2010 | 38,198,074,329 | 38.198 |
| 2011 | 42,467,968,231 | 42.468 |
| 2012 | 46,140,518,129 | 46.141 |
| 2013 | 51,023,232,360 | 51.023 |
| 2014 | 56,256,936,829 | 56.257 |
| 2015 | 62,103,418,182 | 62.103 |
| 2016 | 67,961,933,367 | 67.962 |
| 2017 | 74,461,941,569 | 74.462 |
| 2018 | 79,537,377,551 | 79.537 |
| 2019 | 86,189,951,997 | 86.190 |
| 2020 | 91,412,658,765 | 91.413 |
| 2021 | 96,569,731,967 | 96.570 |
| 2022 | 101,708,941,223 | 101.709 |
| 2023 | 108,415,879,002 | 108.416 |
| 2024 | 116,669,335,367 | 116.669 |
| 2025 | 128,069,700,729 | 128.070 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.497Low human developmentRank 180 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20000.293
20100.415
20200.486
20230.497
67.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
2.4 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Federal parliamentary republic. Parliament has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). Government is formed through the parliamentary system.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Ethiopia.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Ethiopia: Victory at the Battle of Adwa?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.