Economy · Urban population · Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s urban population rose to 24.1% of population in 2025.
24.1% of population
2025
Up 0.49 pp from 2024.
Updated 8 Oct 2026
In plain words
24.1% of population
What it is. Urban population is the share of everyone living in the country who live in areas classed as urban. Each country draws its own line between town and countryside, so the figure follows Ethiopia's national classification and population estimates. It says nothing about how large the cities are, how crowded or well served they are, or how many people commute in from rural areas.
Neither way is good in itself. The share describes where people live, so a higher or lower figure carries no verdict on its own. A rising share can reflect new jobs and services in towns, and it can also bring pressure on housing and water. Ethiopia's latest figure is 24.1% of population in 2025, up from 23.6% a year earlier, a rise of 0.49 percentage points. Since 2016 the share has ranged from 19.9% of population in 2016 to 24.1% of population in 2025, so the latest reading sits at the top of that range.
Why it matters. Most Ethiopians still live outside towns and cities, so farming communities shape much of household life and income. A steady rise of 0.49 percentage points a year adds to demand for urban housing, water, transport and jobs, which city administrations and firms must plan for. Rural services such as roads, schools and clinics remain relevant for the larger share of the population.
| Period | Urban population · Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 19.9% of population |
| 2017 | 20.3% of population |
| 2018 | 20.8% of population |
| 2019 | 21.2% of population |
| 2020 | 21.6% of population |
| 2021 | 22.1% of population |
| 2022 | 22.7% of population |
| 2023 | 23.1% of population |
| 2024 | 23.6% of population |
| 2025 | 24.1% of population |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) · Licence: CC BY 4.0
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Strata-AF™ Data, Urban population, Ethiopia, 2025; source World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 8 Oct 2026; https://data.strata-af.com/economy/urban-population/ethiopia
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Methodology
Share of the population living in urban areas. Unit: % of population.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (series SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS), retrieved through the World Bank API and published under CC BY 4.0. Updated annually; the World Bank's own source notes apply.