Ethiopia has a population density of 319 people per square mile, compared to the average of 144 people in other countries. Ethiopia has 90,009 sq ft of land per person and ranks 78th out of 197 countries (most to least densely populated).
Ethiopia has 1.62% of the world's population and 0.76% of the total land area of all countries.
Ethiopia population density by year
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 319 | 78 |
| 2025 | 311 | 78 |
| 2024 | 303 | 80 |
| 2023 | 295.4 | 81 |
| 2022 | 287.8 | 82 |
| 2021 | 280.3 | 84 |
| 2020 | 272.9 | 86 |
| 2019 | 265.6 | 88 |
| 2018 | 258.6 | 89 |
| 2017 | 251.7 | 89 |
| 2016 | 244.9 | 91 |
| 2015 | 238.4 | 93 |
| 2014 | 232.1 | 93 |
| 2013 | 225.9 | 93 |
| 2012 | 219.8 | 96 |
| 2011 | 213.8 | 98 |
| 2010 | 207.8 | 97 |
| 2009 | 202 | 98 |
| 2008 | 196.3 | 101 |
| 2007 | 190.7 | 102 |
| 2006 | 185.2 | 101 |
| 2005 | 179.8 | 100 |
| 2004 | 174.6 | 99 |
| 2003 | 191.2 | 95 |
| 2002 | 185.5 | 96 |
| 2001 | 180 | 97 |
| 2000 | 174.6 | 97 |
| 1999 | 169.3 | 96 |
| 1998 | 164.1 | 97 |
| 1997 | 159 | 99 |
| 1996 | 154 | 101 |
| 1995 | 149 | 102 |
| 1994 | 144 | 103 |
| 1993 | 139.1 | 103 |
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1993–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/population-density/ethiopia | CC BY 
This chart shows how population density in Ethiopia has changed over time. From 2006 to 2026, population density increased by 72.2%. Ethiopia ranked 101st by population density 20 years ago and ranks 78th today.
Density metrics
Ethiopia
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 319 ppl/mi² | 78/197 |
| Population |
139917664
|
10/197 |
| Land area | 435,716 sq mi | 25/197 |
| Land area per capita | 91,982 sq ft | 118/197 |
| Rural population | 76.4% | 10/195 |
| Urban population | 23.6% | 186/195 |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 4.08% | 99/197 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23.6% | 186 |
| 2023 | 23.1% | 186 |
| 2022 | 22.7% | 185 |
| 2021 | 22.1% | 186 |
| 2020 | 21.6% | 187 |
| 2019 | 21.2% | 187 |
| 2018 | 20.8% | 187 |
| 2017 | 20.3% | 186 |
| 2016 | 19.9% | 186 |
| 2015 | 19.5% | 186 |
| 2014 | 19% | 187 |
| 2013 | 18.6% | 187 |
| 2012 | 18.2% | 188 |
| 2011 | 17.9% | 187 |
| 2010 | 17.5% | 188 |
| 2009 | 17.2% | 188 |
| 2008 | 16.8% | 188 |
| 2007 | 16.1% | 189 |
| 2006 | 16.2% | 189 |
| 2005 | 16% | 189 |
| 2004 | 15.8% | 189 |
| 2003 | 15.5% | 189 |
| 2002 | 15.3% | 189 |
| 2001 | 15.1% | 189 |
| 2000 | 14.9% | 190 |
| 1999 | 14.7% | 190 |
| 1998 | 14.5% | 190 |
| 1997 | 14.3% | 190 |
| 1996 | 14.1% | 190 |
| 1995 | 13.9% | 191 |
| 1994 | 13.7% | 191 |
| 1993 | 13.5% | 191 |
| 1992 | 13.3% | 191 |
| 1991 | 13% | 191 |
| 1990 | 12.8% | 190 |
| 1989 | 12.5% | 188 |
| 1988 | 12.2% | 188 |
| 1987 | 11.9% | 188 |
| 1986 | 11.7% | 188 |
| 1985 | 11.4% | 188 |
| 1984 | 11.2% | 188 |
| 1983 | 11% | 188 |
| 1982 | 10.8% | 188 |
| 1981 | 10.6% | 188 |
| 1980 | 10.4% | 188 |
| 1979 | 10.2% | 187 |
| 1978 | 9.98% | 187 |
| 1977 | 9.79% | 185 |
| 1976 | 9.61% | 183 |
| 1975 | 9.42% | 183 |
| 1974 | 9.24% | 183 |
| 1973 | 9.07% | 181 |
| 1972 | 8.9% | 181 |
| 1971 | 8.73% | 181 |
| 1970 | 8.57% | 181 |
| 1969 | 8.41% | 181 |
| 1968 | 8.25% | 178 |
| 1967 | 8.1% | 177 |
| 1966 | 7.95% | 177 |
| 1965 | 7.8% | 177 |
| 1964 | 7.66% | 177 |
| 1963 | 7.52% | 177 |
| 1962 | 7.38% | 175 |
| 1961 | 7.24% | 175 |
| 1960 | 7.11% | 173 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population-density/ethiopia | CC BY
This chart shows the share of urban population in Ethiopia from 1960 to 2024: 7.11% lived in urban areas in 1960, 14.9% in 2000, and 23.6% in 2024.
Densely populated cities
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Population density in other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population-density/ethiopia | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2007–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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