Ethiopia Demographics: Median age, Gender, Race, Religion

Median age in Ethiopia, 1960–2100

In 1960, the median age in Ethiopia was 18.6 years compared to the world's average of 22.5 years. As of 2024, the median age had increased to 19.9 years, compared with the average of 31.6 years in other countries. Ranked 127th for median age 64 years ago (old to young), Ethiopia ranks 167th currently.

According to the United Nations projections, the median age in Ethiopia is expected to increase to 37.5 years by 2100. The aging demographics forecast is based on previous years' birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

Demographic pyramid: age and gender distribution

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Male

Female

Age range	Share of population
	Ethiopia
	Male	Female
80+	0.17%	0.25%
75-79	0.26%	0.34%
70-74	0.4%	0.49%
65-69	0.61%	0.71%
60-64	0.89%	1.02%
55-59	1.17%	1.31%
50-54	1.43%	1.55%
45-49	1.79%	1.85%
40-44	2.16%	2.17%
35-39	2.79%	2.78%
30-34	3.58%	3.55%
25-29	4.32%	4.28%
20-24	5.02%	4.95%
15-19	5.61%	5.47%
10-14	5.85%	5.67%
5-9	6.55%	6.31%
0-4	7.51%	7.18%

The chart above is a variation of the population pyramid and represents the age and gender structure. Ethiopia has high demographic potential with 75.9% of people in the 0-34 age group (ranked 21/196).

Working-age demographic by year

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Working age share
	Ethiopia	World
2100	63.5%	59.6%
2099	63.6%	59.6%
2098	63.7%	59.7%
2097	63.9%	59.7%
2096	64%	59.7%
2095	64.1%	59.7%
2094	64.2%	59.7%
2093	64.4%	59.8%
2092	64.5%	59.8%
2091	64.6%	59.8%
2090	64.7%	59.8%
2089	64.9%	59.8%
2088	65%	59.8%
2087	65.1%	59.8%
2086	65.2%	59.8%
2085	65.3%	59.9%
2084	65.5%	59.9%
2083	65.5%	60%
2082	65.6%	60.1%
2081	65.7%	60.3%
2080	65.7%	60.4%
2079	65.7%	60.6%
2078	65.7%	60.7%
2077	65.8%	60.9%
2076	65.8%	61%
2075	65.8%	61.1%
2074	65.8%	61.3%
2073	65.9%	61.4%
2072	65.9%	61.5%
2071	66%	61.6%
2070	66%	61.7%
2069	66%	61.8%
2068	66%	61.9%
2067	66%	62%
2066	66%	62%
2065	65.9%	62.1%
2064	65.9%	62.1%
2063	65.8%	62.1%
2062	65.8%	62.2%
2061	65.7%	62.2%
2060	65.6%	62.3%
2059	65.6%	62.3%
2058	65.5%	62.4%
2057	65.4%	62.4%
2056	65.3%	62.5%
2055	65.2%	62.7%
2054	65.1%	62.8%
2053	65%	62.9%
2052	64.9%	63.1%
2051	64.7%	63.2%
2050	64.5%	63.4%
2049	64.3%	63.5%
2048	64.1%	63.6%
2047	63.8%	63.8%
2046	63.6%	63.9%
2045	63.3%	64%
2044	63%	64.1%
2043	62.7%	64.2%
2042	62.4%	64.3%
2041	62.1%	64.4%
2040	61.8%	64.5%
2039	61.4%	64.7%
2038	61%	64.8%
2037	60.7%	64.9%
2036	60.3%	65.1%
2035	59.9%	65.2%
2034	59.6%	65.3%
2033	59.3%	65.4%
2032	59%	65.4%
2031	58.8%	65.4%
2030	58.6%	65.4%
2029	58.5%	65.4%
2028	58.4%	65.4%
2027	58.2%	65.4%
2026	58%	65.2%
2025	57.8%	65.1%
2024	57.7%	65.1%
2023	57.5%	65%
2022	57.2%	64.9%
2021	56.8%	64.9%
2020	56.5%	64.8%
2019	56.1%	64.9%
2018	55.7%	64.9%
2017	55.3%	65%
2016	54.7%	65.1%
2015	54.2%	65.1%
2014	53.7%	65.2%
2013	53.1%	65.2%
2012	52.6%	65.2%
2011	52%	65.2%
2010	51.5%	65.1%
2009	51.1%	65%
2008	50.7%	64.9%
2007	50.4%	64.7%
2006	50.1%	64.5%
2005	49.9%	64.3%
2004	49.8%	64%
2003	49.7%	63.7%
2002	49.6%	63.4%
2001	49.6%	63.1%
2000	49.6%	62.8%
1999	49.8%	62.5%
1998	50%	62.2%
1997	50.2%	61.9%
1996	50.4%	61.7%
1995	50.6%	61.5%
1994	50.7%	61.3%
1993	50.9%	61.2%
1992	51%	61.1%
1991	51.1%	61%
1990	51%	60.9%
1989	51.2%	60.8%
1988	51.3%	60.7%
1987	51.3%	60.5%
1986	51.3%	60.4%
1985	51.2%	60.1%
1984	51.1%	59.9%
1983	50.8%	59.6%
1982	50.7%	59.3%
1981	50.8%	59%
1980	50.9%	58.7%
1979	51%	58.4%
1978	51.1%	58%
1977	51.3%	57.7%
1976	51.5%	57.5%
1975	51.6%	57.4%
1974	51.8%	57.3%
1973	52%	57.3%
1972	52.3%	57.2%
1971	52.6%	57.1%
1970	53%	57%
1969	53.4%	56.9%
1968	53.7%	56.9%
1967	54.1%	56.9%
1966	54.4%	56.8%
1965	54.7%	56.9%
1964	55%	57%
1963	55.1%	57.2%
1962	55.1%	57.4%
1961	55%	57.5%
1960	54.9%	57.6%

The share of working-age demographics aged 15-64 in Ethiopia changed from 49.8% to 57.7% between 2004 and 2024.

Age dependency by year

Age dependency is the ratio of people not in the labor force (children under 15 and adults 64+) to people aged 15 to 64. Age dependency in Ethiopia decreased from 100.9% to 73.3% between 2004 and 2024 with a decreased share of children and an increased proportion of people aged 65+

Share of young demographic (0-14 years) by year

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 0-14
	Ethiopia	World
2100	19.2%	16.5%
2099	19.4%	16.6%
2098	19.5%	16.6%
2097	19.6%	16.7%
2096	19.8%	16.8%
2095	19.9%	16.8%
2094	20.1%	16.9%
2093	20.2%	17%
2092	20.4%	17%
2091	20.5%	17.1%
2090	20.7%	17.2%
2089	20.9%	17.2%
2088	21%	17.3%
2087	21.2%	17.4%
2086	21.4%	17.4%
2085	21.5%	17.5%
2084	21.7%	17.5%
2083	21.9%	17.6%
2082	22.1%	17.7%
2081	22.3%	17.7%
2080	22.5%	17.8%
2079	22.6%	17.8%
2078	22.8%	17.9%
2077	23.1%	17.9%
2076	23.3%	18%
2075	23.5%	18%
2074	23.7%	18.1%
2073	23.9%	18.2%
2072	24.2%	18.2%
2071	24.4%	18.3%
2070	24.7%	18.3%
2069	24.9%	18.4%
2068	25.2%	18.5%
2067	25.4%	18.6%
2066	25.7%	18.6%
2065	26%	18.7%
2064	26.2%	18.8%
2063	26.5%	18.9%
2062	26.8%	19.1%
2061	27.1%	19.2%
2060	27.4%	19.3%
2059	27.6%	19.4%
2058	27.9%	19.5%
2057	28.2%	19.6%
2056	28.5%	19.8%
2055	28.8%	19.9%
2054	29%	20%
2053	29.3%	20.1%
2052	29.6%	20.2%
2051	29.9%	20.3%
2050	30.2%	20.4%
2049	30.5%	20.5%
2048	30.8%	20.6%
2047	31.1%	20.7%
2046	31.5%	20.8%
2045	31.9%	20.9%
2044	32.2%	20.9%
2043	32.6%	21%
2042	33%	21.1%
2041	33.4%	21.2%
2040	33.8%	21.2%
2039	34.3%	21.3%
2038	34.7%	21.4%
2037	35.1%	21.5%
2036	35.6%	21.6%
2035	36%	21.8%
2034	36.5%	22%
2033	36.8%	22.2%
2032	37.2%	22.4%
2031	37.5%	22.7%
2030	37.7%	23%
2029	37.9%	23.3%
2028	38.2%	23.6%
2027	38.4%	23.9%
2026	38.6%	24.2%
2025	38.9%	24.6%
2024	39.1%	24.7%
2023	39.4%	25%
2022	39.7%	25.3%
2021	40.1%	25.6%
2020	40.5%	25.8%
2019	40.9%	26%
2018	41.3%	26.2%
2017	41.8%	26.4%
2016	42.3%	26.5%
2015	42.9%	26.6%
2014	43.4%	26.8%
2013	44%	26.9%
2012	44.6%	27%
2011	45.2%	27.1%
2010	45.7%	27.3%
2009	46.2%	27.5%
2008	46.6%	27.6%
2007	46.9%	27.9%
2006	47.2%	28.1%
2005	47.4%	28.5%
2004	47.6%	28.8%
2003	47.7%	29.2%
2002	47.8%	29.6%
2001	47.8%	30%
2000	47.7%	30.4%
1999	47.6%	30.8%
1998	47.4%	31.1%
1997	47.1%	31.5%
1996	46.9%	31.8%
1995	46.7%	32.1%
1994	46.5%	32.3%
1993	46.4%	32.5%
1992	46.2%	32.7%
1991	46.2%	32.9%
1990	46.2%	33%
1989	46.1%	33.2%
1988	46%	33.4%
1987	46%	33.6%
1986	46%	33.8%
1985	46.1%	34%
1984	46.2%	34.3%
1983	46.4%	34.6%
1982	46.5%	34.9%
1981	46.4%	35.2%
1980	46.3%	35.5%
1979	46.2%	35.9%
1978	46.1%	36.3%
1977	45.9%	36.7%
1976	45.7%	36.9%
1975	45.6%	37.1%
1974	45.4%	37.2%
1973	45.2%	37.3%
1972	44.9%	37.5%
1971	44.5%	37.6%
1970	44.2%	37.7%
1969	43.8%	37.8%
1968	43.5%	37.9%
1967	43.2%	38%
1966	42.9%	38%
1965	42.5%	38%
1964	42.3%	38%
1963	42.2%	37.8%
1962	42.1%	37.6%
1961	42.2%	37.5%
1960	42.2%	37.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Ethiopia decreased from 47.6% to 39.1% between 2004 and 2024 due to changes in birth rates.

Share of old population (65+) by year

Chart Table

Ethiopia

Factual

UN forecast

World

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Share of 65+ years old
	Ethiopia	World
2100	17.3%	23.9%
2099	17%	23.8%
2098	16.8%	23.7%
2097	16.5%	23.6%
2096	16.3%	23.5%
2095	16%	23.4%
2094	15.7%	23.4%
2093	15.4%	23.3%
2092	15.2%	23.2%
2091	14.9%	23.1%
2090	14.6%	23.1%
2089	14.3%	23%
2088	14%	22.9%
2087	13.7%	22.8%
2086	13.4%	22.7%
2085	13.1%	22.6%
2084	12.8%	22.5%
2083	12.6%	22.4%
2082	12.3%	22.2%
2081	12.1%	22%
2080	11.8%	21.8%
2079	11.6%	21.6%
2078	11.4%	21.4%
2077	11.2%	21.2%
2076	11%	21%
2075	10.7%	20.8%
2074	10.5%	20.6%
2073	10.2%	20.4%
2072	9.92%	20.3%
2071	9.64%	20.1%
2070	9.36%	19.9%
2069	9.08%	19.8%
2068	8.83%	19.6%
2067	8.57%	19.5%
2066	8.33%	19.3%
2065	8.1%	19.2%
2064	7.87%	19.1%
2063	7.65%	18.9%
2062	7.43%	18.8%
2061	7.22%	18.6%
2060	7%	18.5%
2059	6.79%	18.3%
2058	6.58%	18.1%
2057	6.39%	17.9%
2056	6.2%	17.7%
2055	6.02%	17.5%
2054	5.85%	17.2%
2053	5.69%	17%
2052	5.54%	16.7%
2051	5.41%	16.4%
2050	5.3%	16.2%
2049	5.2%	16%
2048	5.12%	15.8%
2047	5.04%	15.5%
2046	4.95%	15.3%
2045	4.85%	15.1%
2044	4.76%	14.9%
2043	4.67%	14.8%
2042	4.59%	14.6%
2041	4.5%	14.4%
2040	4.42%	14.2%
2039	4.35%	14%
2038	4.28%	13.8%
2037	4.2%	13.5%
2036	4.13%	13.3%
2035	4.04%	13%
2034	3.96%	12.7%
2033	3.88%	12.4%
2032	3.8%	12.2%
2031	3.71%	11.9%
2030	3.63%	11.6%
2029	3.55%	11.3%
2028	3.48%	11%
2027	3.4%	10.7%
2026	3.33%	10.5%
2025	3.26%	10.3%
2024	3.23%	10.2%
2023	3.17%	9.98%
2022	3.12%	9.74%
2021	3.09%	9.53%
2020	3.07%	9.33%
2019	3.04%	9.1%
2018	3.01%	8.88%
2017	2.98%	8.65%
2016	2.95%	8.45%
2015	2.94%	8.26%
2014	2.91%	8.08%
2013	2.87%	7.92%
2012	2.83%	7.78%
2011	2.78%	7.66%
2010	2.74%	7.58%
2009	2.71%	7.52%
2008	2.68%	7.47%
2007	2.66%	7.41%
2006	2.65%	7.34%
2005	2.63%	7.26%
2004	2.62%	7.18%
2003	2.62%	7.1%
2002	2.62%	7.01%
2001	2.62%	6.92%
2000	2.61%	6.84%
1999	2.62%	6.76%
1998	2.64%	6.68%
1997	2.65%	6.61%
1996	2.67%	6.53%
1995	2.7%	6.45%
1994	2.73%	6.37%
1993	2.75%	6.29%
1992	2.76%	6.21%
1991	2.75%	6.14%
1990	2.74%	6.07%
1989	2.74%	6.01%
1988	2.73%	5.95%
1987	2.71%	5.91%
1986	2.71%	5.86%
1985	2.72%	5.82%
1984	2.74%	5.8%
1983	2.77%	5.79%
1982	2.78%	5.8%
1981	2.79%	5.81%
1980	2.79%	5.81%
1979	2.8%	5.77%
1978	2.8%	5.71%
1977	2.81%	5.65%
1976	2.81%	5.59%
1975	2.81%	5.53%
1974	2.82%	5.47%
1973	2.83%	5.42%
1972	2.83%	5.37%
1971	2.82%	5.32%
1970	2.81%	5.28%
1969	2.79%	5.24%
1968	2.77%	5.2%
1967	2.75%	5.16%
1966	2.73%	5.12%
1965	2.73%	5.08%
1964	2.74%	5.04%
1963	2.75%	5.02%
1962	2.77%	5.01%
1961	2.8%	4.99%
1960	2.82%	4.97%

The share of older people aged 65 and over in Ethiopia increased from 2.62% to 3.23% between 2004 and 2024.

Median age map

+ -

1x