Map of Ethiopia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

top of page


Background:


top of page


Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 1,104,300 km²
Land: 1,096,570 km²
Water: 7,730 km²
Note: area numbers are approximate since a large portion of the Ethiopia-Somalia border is undefined
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Country comparison total: 5,925 km
Country comparison border countries: (6) Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km

Land boundaries
Total: 5,925 km
Border countries: (6) Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Elevation
Highest point: Ras Dejen 4,550 m
Lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m
Mean elevation: 1,330 m

Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 36.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 15.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 20% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 12.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 51.5% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,813 km² (2020)

Major rivers
By length in km: Blue Nile river source (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 km
By length in km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 9.69 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 122 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Volcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir

Geography
Note 1: landlocked -- entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; Ethiopia is, therefore, the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia
Note 2: three major crops may have originated in Ethiopia: coffee (almost certainly), grain sorghum, and castor bean


top of page


Population
Distribution: 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
Total: 118,550,298
Male: 59,062,093
Female: 59,488,205 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.37% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 23.5% (2015 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Ethiopian(s)
Adjective: Ethiopian

Ethnic groups: Oromo 35.8%, Amhara 24.1%, Somali 7.2%, Tigray 5.7%, Sidama 4.1%, Guragie 2.6%, Welaita 2.3%, Afar 2.2%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 13.5% (2022 est.)

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.)
Major-language samples: Kitaaba Addunyaa Waan Qabataamaatiif - Kan Madda Odeeffannoo bu’uraawaatiif baay’ee barbaachisaa ta’e. (Oromo); የአለም እውነታ መጽሐፍ፣ ለመሠረታዊ መረጃ እጅግ አስፈላጊ የሆነ ምንጭ። (Amharic); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 38.7% (male 23,092,496/female 22,765,882)
15-64 years: 58% (male 34,175,328/female 34,536,238)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,794,269/female 2,186,085)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 75.7
Youth dependency ratio: 70.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5
Potential support ratio: 18.1 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 20.2 years
Female: 20.7 years

Population growth rate: 2.37% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 29.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: 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

Urbanization
Urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 5.461 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management; industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 21.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 14.87 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 114.21 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.3 years (2019 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 267 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 32.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 37.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 65.4 years
Female: 70 years

Total fertility rate: 3.84 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 37.7% (2020)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 98.5% of population
Unimproved rural: 29.8% of population
Unimproved total: 23.6% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 1.5% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 52.5% of population
Improved rural: 8.1% of population
Improved total: 17.7% of population
Unimproved urban: 47.5% of population
Unimproved rural: 91.9% of population
Unimproved total: 82.3% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 4.5% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 1.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 5.1% (2020 est.)
Male: 8.8% (2020 est.)
Female: 1.3% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.1% (2019)

Education expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2019 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 51.8%
Male: 57.2%
Female: 44.4% (2017)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years
Male: 8 years
Female: 8 years (2012)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


top of page


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 Greek word 'Aethiopia,' which in classical times referred to lands south of Egypt in the Upper Nile region

Government type: federal parliamentary republic

Capital
Name: Addis Ababa
Geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name in Amharic means 'new flower' and was bestowed on the city in 1889, three years after its founding

Administrative divisions: 12 ethnically based regional states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 chartered cities* (astedader akabibiwach, singular - astedader akabibi); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela), Hareri Hizb (Harari), Oromia, Sidama, Sumale, Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples), Southern Ethiopia Peoples

Dependent areas

Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.)

National holiday: Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995
Amendments: proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
Elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election held on 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (the scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed by Prime Minister ABIY due to the COVID-19 pandemic); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections
Election results: 2021: SAHLE-WORK Zewde reelected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021); 2018: SAHLE-WORK Zewde elected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous)
Note: SAHLE-WORK Zewde is the first female elected head of state in Ethiopia

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament consists of: House of Federation or Yefedereshein Mikir Bete (153 seats maximum; 144 seats current; members indirectly elected by state assemblies to serve 5-year terms), House of People's Representatives or Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete (547 seats maximum; 470 seats current; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; 22 seats reserved for minorities; all members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: House of Federation - last held 4 October 2021 (next expected in October 2,026), House of People's Representatives - last held in two parts on 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (next expected in June 2,026)
Elections results: House of Federation - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA; composition - men 102, women 43, percentage women 29.7%, House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Prosperity Party 454, NAMA 5, EZEMA 4, Gedeo People's Democratic organization 2, Kucha People Democratic Party 1, independent 4; composition - men 275, women 195, percentage women 41.3%
Note: the House of Federation is responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues, and the House of People's Representatives is responsible for passing legislation

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges)
Note: the House of Federation has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues
Judge selection and term of office: president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member body chaired by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60
Subordinate courts: federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts

Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice and Democracy or EZEMA , Gedeo People's Democratic Party, Independent, Kucha People Democratic Party , National Movement of Amhara or NAMA, Prosperity Party or PP

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, BRICS, COMESA, EITI, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (accession candidate)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Aster Mamo ANA (since 31 July 2024)
In the us chancery: 3,506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
In the us fax: [1] (202) 587-0195
In the us email address and website: ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org; [link]
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023)
From the us embassy: Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
From the us mailing address: 2,030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20,521-2,030
From the us telephone: [251] 111-30-60-00
From the us fax: [251] 111-24-24-01
From the us email address and website: AddisACS@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; green represents hope and the fertility of the land, yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia
Note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag (adopted ca. 1895) were so often appropriated by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the Pan-African colors; the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996

National symbols: Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by current government); national colors: green, yellow, red

National anthem
Name: 'Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia' (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)
Lyrics/music: DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
Note: adopted 1992

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 12 (10 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


top of page


Economy overview: growing Horn of Africa construction- and services-based economy; port access via Djibouti and Eritrea; widespread but declining poverty; COVID-19, locust invasion, and Tigray crisis disruptions; public investment increases; second largest African labor force

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $354.604 billion (2023 est.); $332.968 billion (2022 est.); $316.145 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 6.5% (2023 est.); 5.32% (2022 est.); 5.64% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $2,800 (2023 est.); $2,700 (2022 est.); $2,600 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 78.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -14% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 35.8% (2023 est.)
Industry: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Services: 37% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: maize, wheat, cereals, sorghum, milk, barley, taro, potatoes, millet, beans (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 6.93% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 61.664 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3.5% (2023 est.); 3.49% (2022 est.); 3.94% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 23.5% (2015 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $7.009 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $8.83 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 4.51% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 31.45% of GDP (2019 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 5.81% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 30.22% (2023 est.); 33.89% (2022 est.); 26.84% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$4.788 billion (2023 est.); -$5.16 billion (2022 est.); -$4.507 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $10.865 billion (2023 est.); $10.971 billion (2022 est.); $9.496 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: UAE 17%, US 13%, Germany 6%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Somalia 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: coffee, gold, garments, cut flowers, vegetables (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $22.951 billion (2023 est.); $24.187 billion (2022 est.); $20.859 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 24%, US 9%, India 8%, UAE 6%, UK 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: wheat, refined petroleum, fertilizers, vaccines, palm oil (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.046 billion (2020 est.); $2.993 billion (2019 est.); $3.987 billion (2018 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $21.522 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification total population: 55% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 94%
Access electrification rural areas: 43%
Installed generating capacity: 5.73 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 10.596 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 1.665 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 3.154 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 95.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Production: 8,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 660,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 666,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 110,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 428,000 barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Proven reserves: 24.919 billion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 17.232 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1.38 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 15.852 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 2.34 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 862,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 69.123 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces (Army), Ethiopian Air Force (Ye Ityopya Ayer Hayl, ETAF) (2024)
Note 1: national and regional police forces are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order, with the ENDF sometimes providing internal security support; the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) report to the Prime Minister’s Office
Note 2: the regional governments control regional security forces, including 'special' paramilitary forces, which generally operate independently from the federal government and in some cases operate as regional defense forces maintaining national borders; in April 2023, the federal government ordered the integration of these regional special forces into the EFP or ENDF; in some cases, the regional governments have maintained former members of the special forces for “crowd control/Adma Bitena” as a separate unit within their security structures; local militias also operate across the country in loose and varying coordination with regional security and police forces, the ENDF, and the EFP
Note 3: in 2020 the Ethiopian Government announced it had re-established a navy, which had been disbanded in 1996; in March 2019, Ethiopia signed a defense cooperation agreement with France which stipulated that France would support the establishment of an Ethiopian navy
Note 4: in 2018, Ethiopia established a Republican Guard military unit as a separate command operationally under the Office of the Prime Minister and administratively accountable to the Ministry of Defense; it is responsible for protecting senior officials and government institutions and conducting some military operations

Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service (although the military may, when necessary, recruit a person more than 22 years old); no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups: al-Shabaab; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide


top of page


National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 75
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 11,501,244 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2,089,280,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ET

Airports: 57 (2024)

Heliports: 1 (2024)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 180,000 km (2023)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 167,391 (Eritrea) (2023); 420,502 (South Sudan), 314,976 (Somalia), 111,778 (Sudan) (refugees since 15 April 2023) (2024)
Idps: 4.385 million (includes conflict- and climate-induced IDPs, excluding unverified estimates from the Amhara region; border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000; ethnic clashes; and ongoing fighting between the Ethiopian military and separatist rebel groups in the Somali and Oromia regions; natural disasters; intercommunal violence; most IDPs live in Sumale state) (2023)

Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center