Skip to content

Population in Ethiopia compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 3.71 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 2.15% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Ethiopia vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Saudi Arabia
2100 371,078,260 76,380,382
2099 369,338,252 75,896,692
2098 367,513,542 75,410,485
2097 365,567,496 74,922,342
2096 363,536,294 74,431,436
2095 361,596,042 73,939,761
2094 359,531,317 73,447,628
2093 357,460,480 72,954,272
2092 355,389,829 72,460,372
2091 353,218,632 71,966,760
2090 350,960,021 71,474,363
2089 348,751,618 70,984,330
2088 346,517,326 70,494,851
2087 344,162,324 70,006,368
2086 341,671,994 69,519,641
2085 339,167,930 69,035,093
2084 336,649,520 68,551,533
2083 334,083,247 68,068,933
2082 331,401,460 67,587,034
2081 328,715,487 67,105,252
2080 326,013,981 66,624,751
2079 323,282,865 66,144,495
2078 320,422,535 65,664,508
2077 317,492,915 65,183,768
2076 314,518,328 64,701,603
2075 311,487,723 64,217,651
2074 308,416,133 63,731,809
2073 305,383,505 63,243,084
2072 302,258,564 62,750,764
2071 299,119,280 62,255,408
2070 295,963,235 61,756,796
2069 292,756,723 61,253,878
2068 289,522,748 60,746,216
2067 286,191,689 60,235,232
2066 282,905,709 59,720,954
2065 279,576,283 59,203,814
2064 276,197,958 58,684,254
2063 272,782,685 58,161,702
2062 269,340,926 57,637,152
2061 265,803,351 57,109,207
2060 262,269,354 56,579,736
2059 258,692,767 56,047,666
2058 255,205,644 55,513,281
2057 251,656,356 54,978,393
2056 248,002,497 54,441,706
2055 244,426,069 53,904,081
2054 240,794,405 53,364,635
2053 237,155,110 52,823,422
2052 233,479,314 52,280,914
2051 229,733,593 51,737,228
2050 226,055,085 51,192,924
2049 222,351,471 50,647,663
2048 218,627,197 50,100,576
2047 214,883,954 49,552,613
2046 211,161,780 49,002,774
2045 207,461,987 48,451,215
2044 203,749,820 47,898,754
2043 200,035,613 47,346,122
2042 196,351,202 46,792,504
2041 192,689,672 46,237,820
2040 189,023,384 45,682,139
2039 185,365,776 45,126,407
2038 181,733,067 44,569,427
2037 178,124,993 44,012,415
2036 174,515,366 43,454,985
2035 170,904,339 42,897,909
2034 167,316,305 42,342,044
2033 163,763,376 41,787,423
2032 160,167,364 41,233,964
2031 156,590,018 40,680,599
2030 153,023,174 40,128,273
2029 149,461,578 39,530,306
2028 145,944,350 38,906,191
2027 142,419,893 38,267,271
2026 138,930,724 37,625,434
2025 135,472,051 36,973,555
2024 132,059,767 35,300,280
2023 128,691,692 33,702,731
2022 125,384,287 32,175,224
2021 122,138,588 30,784,383
2020 118,917,671 31,552,510
2019 115,737,383 30,063,799
2018 112,664,152 30,196,281
2017 109,666,481 30,977,355
2016 106,718,162 30,954,198
2015 103,867,135 29,816,382
2014 101,115,610 28,309,273
2013 98,438,751 27,624,004
2012 95,798,767 26,168,861
2011 93,149,970 25,091,867
2010 90,538,514 23,978,487
2009 88,007,636 24,217,654
2008 85,543,668 23,287,877
2007 83,103,217 22,368,313
2006 80,703,490 21,459,144
2005 78,367,470 20,559,890
2004 76,077,206 19,669,480
2003 73,832,663 18,786,767
2002 71,635,517 17,910,910
2001 69,487,762 17,041,397
2000 67,411,494 16,177,722
1999 65,374,561 15,472,075
1998 63,363,524 14,922,185
1997 61,404,539 14,374,943
1996 59,467,635 13,831,009
1995 57,537,335 13,289,245
1994 55,611,508 12,750,040
1993 53,708,891 12,215,862
1992 51,853,747 11,686,676
1991 49,717,198 11,160,744
1990 47,609,755 10,640,691
1989 45,879,690 10,128,394
1988 44,150,825 9,629,165
1987 42,460,039 9,130,194
1986 41,037,656 8,628,639
1985 39,842,136 8,151,779
1984 38,735,722 7,697,307
1983 37,740,817 7,252,941
1982 36,701,290 6,824,486
1981 35,304,012 6,420,551
1980 34,428,514 6,047,997
1979 34,238,652 5,703,698
1978 33,734,592 5,381,902
1977 33,167,272 5,083,048
1976 32,534,418 4,807,933
1975 31,723,252 4,556,287
1974 30,957,273 4,323,632
1973 30,166,785 4,106,344
1972 29,374,608 3,905,722
1971 28,600,106 3,724,031
1970 27,829,128 3,562,470
1969 27,072,571 3,417,114
1968 26,337,930 3,282,711
1967 25,620,276 3,157,242
1966 24,952,689 3,039,887
1965 24,310,612 2,928,771
1964 23,666,548 2,821,968
1963 23,051,637 2,719,341
1962 22,465,126 2,620,910
1961 21,906,102 2,526,347
1960 21,376,693 2,435,403

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Saudi Arabia
2100 0.47% 0.64%
2099 0.5% 0.64%
2098 0.53% 0.65%
2097 0.56% 0.66%
2096 0.54% 0.66%
2095 0.57% 0.67%
2094 0.58% 0.68%
2093 0.58% 0.68%
2092 0.61% 0.69%
2091 0.64% 0.69%
2090 0.63% 0.69%
2089 0.64% 0.69%
2088 0.68% 0.7%
2087 0.73% 0.7%
2086 0.74% 0.7%
2085 0.75% 0.71%
2084 0.77% 0.71%
2083 0.81% 0.71%
2082 0.82% 0.72%
2081 0.83% 0.72%
2080 0.84% 0.73%
2079 0.89% 0.73%
2078 0.92% 0.74%
2077 0.95% 0.75%
2076 0.97% 0.75%
2075 1% 0.76%
2074 0.99% 0.77%
2073 1.03% 0.78%
2072 1.05% 0.8%
2071 1.07% 0.81%
2070 1.1% 0.82%
2069 1.12% 0.84%
2068 1.16% 0.85%
2067 1.16% 0.86%
2066 1.19% 0.87%
2065 1.22% 0.89%
2064 1.25% 0.9%
2063 1.28% 0.91%
2062 1.33% 0.92%
2061 1.35% 0.94%
2060 1.38% 0.95%
2059 1.37% 0.96%
2058 1.41% 0.97%
2057 1.47% 0.99%
2056 1.46% 1%
2055 1.51% 1.01%
2054 1.53% 1.02%
2053 1.57% 1.04%
2052 1.63% 1.05%
2051 1.63% 1.06%
2050 1.67% 1.08%
2049 1.7% 1.09%
2048 1.74% 1.11%
2047 1.76% 1.12%
2046 1.78% 1.14%
2045 1.82% 1.15%
2044 1.86% 1.17%
2043 1.88% 1.18%
2042 1.9% 1.2%
2041 1.94% 1.22%
2040 1.97% 1.23%
2039 2% 1.25%
2038 2.03% 1.27%
2037 2.07% 1.28%
2036 2.11% 1.3%
2035 2.14% 1.31%
2034 2.17% 1.33%
2033 2.25% 1.34%
2032 2.28% 1.36%
2031 2.33% 1.38%
2030 2.38% 1.51%
2029 2.41% 1.6%
2028 2.47% 1.67%
2027 2.51% 1.71%
2026 2.55% 1.76%
2025 2.58% 4.74%
2024 2.62% 4.74%
2023 2.64% 4.75%
2022 2.66% 4.52%
2021 2.71% -2.43%
2020 2.75% 4.95%
2019 2.73% -0.44%
2018 2.73% -2.52%
2017 2.76% 0.07%
2016 2.74% 3.82%
2015 2.72% 5.32%
2014 2.72% 2.48%
2013 2.76% 5.56%
2012 2.84% 4.29%
2011 2.88% 4.64%
2010 2.88% -0.99%
2009 2.88% 3.99%
2008 2.94% 4.11%
2007 2.97% 4.24%
2006 2.98% 4.37%
2005 3.01% 4.53%
2004 3.04% 4.7%
2003 3.07% 4.89%
2002 3.09% 5.1%
2001 3.08% 5.34%
2000 3.12% 4.56%
1999 3.17% 3.69%
1998 3.19% 3.81%
1997 3.26% 3.93%
1996 3.35% 4.08%
1995 3.46% 4.23%
1994 3.54% 4.37%
1993 3.58% 4.53%
1992 4.3% 4.71%
1991 4.43% 4.89%
1990 3.77% 5.06%
1989 3.92% 5.18%
1988 3.98% 5.47%
1987 3.47% 5.81%
1986 3% 5.85%
1985 2.86% 5.9%
1984 2.64% 6.13%
1983 2.83% 6.28%
1982 3.96% 6.29%
1981 2.54% 6.16%
1980 0.55% 6.04%
1979 1.49% 5.98%
1978 1.71% 5.88%
1977 1.95% 5.72%
1976 2.56% 5.52%
1975 2.47% 5.38%
1974 2.62% 5.29%
1973 2.7% 5.14%
1972 2.71% 4.88%
1971 2.77% 4.54%
1970 2.79% 4.25%
1969 2.79% 4.09%
1968 2.8% 3.97%
1967 2.68% 3.86%
1966 2.64% 3.79%
1965 2.72% 3.78%
1964 2.67% 3.77%
1963 2.61% 3.76%
1962 2.55% 3.74%
1961 2.48% 3.73%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Saudi Arabia
Current population
140722974
37955120
Population rank 10/197 43/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.46%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
18.9 seconds
One birth every
7.59 seconds
54.2 seconds
One death every
40.6 seconds
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +4,584
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 2/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 +119,738
Net migration rank 31/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - 119,738
2024 3,379,409 30,069 499,782 122,170
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 474,366 325,691
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 406,920 977,072
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 409,032 -106,287
2020 3,199,718 38,866 447,036 -74,725
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 474,407 191,582
2018 3,015,231 9,302 528,767 -988,751
2017 2,899,143 71,766 546,751 -920,812
2016 2,809,889 115,823 537,829 -26,997
2015 2,713,529 62,785 511,023 465,292
2014 2,623,647 103,122 493,431 469,144
2013 2,546,020 80,955 475,299 485,794
2012 2,533,398 119,517 465,649 479,206
2011 2,527,811 116,793 443,675 491,253
2010 2,498,048 80,213 418,641 504,955
2009 2,467,118 16,315 438,557 496,229
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 433,457 491,337
2007 2,436,753 -381 425,199 489,136
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 399,333 504,661
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 375,938 518,565
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 362,843 523,472
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 364,520 514,606
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 372,099 500,508
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 382,153 484,252
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 392,407 468,515
1999 2,010,987 29,142 390,112 160,263
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 389,499 159,898
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 385,033 160,066
1996 1,896,364 41,456 382,248 160,532
1995 1,831,068 91,727 380,231 160,512
1994 1,788,133 140,715 377,351 160,306
1993 1,734,851 141,545 372,621 158,074
1992 1,673,839 160,106 366,763 160,908
1991 1,579,416 859,737 361,329 162,857
1990 1,479,663 296,014 355,495 160,416
1989 1,441,769 242,614 349,399 159,273
1988 1,393,356 379,966 342,865 146,918
1987 1,356,853 251,387 333,088 175,075
1986 1,050,277 186,227 322,340 172,606
1985 997,050 157,476 310,558 148,208
1984 920,670 137,632 296,615 153,562
1983 863,472 68,022 280,616 157,930
1982 1,080,853 66,702 264,831 153,528
1981 1,018,838 628,135 249,156 140,355
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 234,372 121,220
1979 987,203 -711,455 220,186 112,826
1978 943,388 -210,991 205,331 105,263
1977 929,381 -527,133 191,103 96,015
1976 899,577 -36,125 178,024 85,083
1975 801,425 -42,540 166,223 73,960
1974 777,306 -4,232 155,478 69,653
1973 807,535 347 145,450 63,995
1972 779,808 -3,375 136,360 55,439
1971 787,047 -14,510 127,600 43,989
1970 760,821 8,589 120,440 31,097
1969 736,428 7,258 113,859 25,312
1968 715,602 9,992 108,281 21,366
1967 695,283 14,437 103,343 17,947
1966 616,281 9,160 98,361 15,054
1965 642,359 16,348 93,820 15,000
1964 618,667 10,749 89,776 15,000
1963 590,998 9,418 85,480 15,000
1962 563,650 8,960 81,393 15,000
1961 538,518 6,938 77,743 15,000
1960 511,694 1,696 74,143 15,000

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people). In Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.