Ethiopia’s population rose to 135.5 m people in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A larger population can mean more workers and customers, and it also means more mouths to feed and more demand for schools, health care and jobs. A smaller one would shift those pressures the other way, so the direction carries no verdict on its own. The latest figure is 135.5 million people, up from 132.1 million a year earlier, a rise of 3.4 million or 2.6%. Since 2016 the range runs from 106.7 million people in 2016 to 135.5 million in 2025, so the latest reading is the highest in that span.

Why it matters. A rise of 3.4 million people in a year means more households needing homes, food and work, and more children needing school places. Firms gain a larger pool of workers and buyers. The state has to expand services and jobs at a similar pace to keep living standards from slipping.