{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "
The area that is modern-day Ethiopia is rich in cultural and religious diversity with more than 80 ethnic groups. The oldest hominid yet found comes from Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was the second country to officially adopt Christianity in the 4th century A.D. A series of monarchies ruled the area that is now Ethiopia from 980 B.C. to 1855, when the Amhara kingdoms of northern Ethiopia united in an empire under Tewodros II. Many Ethiopians still speak reverently about the Battle of Adwa in 1896, when they defeated Italian forces and won their freedom from colonial rule.
Emperor Haile SELASSIE became an internationally renowned figure in 1935, when he unsuccessfully appealed to the League of Nations to prevent Italy from occupying Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941. SELASSIE survived an attempted coup in 1960, annexed modern-day Eritrea in 1962, and played a leading role in establishing the Organization of African Unity in 1963. However, in 1974, a military junta called the Derg deposed him and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, drought, and massive displacement, the Derg regime was toppled in 1991 by a coalition of opposing forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The EPRDF became an ethno-federalist political coalition that ruled Ethiopia from 1991 until its dissolution in 2019. Ethiopia adopted its constitution in 1994 and held its first multiparty elections in 1995.
A two-and-a-half-year border war with Eritrea in the late 1990s ended with a peace treaty in 2000. Ethiopia subsequently rejected the 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission demarcation. This resulted in more than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate between the two countries. In 2012, longtime Prime Minister MELES Zenawi died in office and was replaced by his Deputy Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn, marking the first peaceful transition of power in decades. Following a wave of popular dissent and anti-government protest that began in 2015, HAILEMARIAM resigned in 2018, and ABIY Ahmed Ali took office the same year as Ethiopia's first ethnic Oromo prime minister. In 2018, ABIY promoted a rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea that was marked with a peace agreement and a reopening of their shared border. In 2019, Ethiopia's nearly 30-year ethnic-based ruling coalition, the EPRDF, merged into a single unity party called the Prosperity Party; however, the lead coalition party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), declined to join. In 2020, a military conflict erupted between forces aligned with the TPLF and the Ethiopian military. The conflict -- which was marked by atrocities committed by all parties -- ended in 2022 with a cessation of hostilities agreement between the TPLF and the Ethiopian Government. However, Ethiopia continues to experience ethnic-based violence as other groups -- including the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Amhara militia Fano -- seek concessions from the Ethiopian Government.
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
volcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m), which has caused frequent lava flows in recent years, is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir
" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "118,550,298 (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "59,062,093" }, "female": { "text": "59,488,205" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Ethiopian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Ethiopian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Oromo 35.8%, Amhara 24.1%, Somali 7.2%, Tigray 5.7%, Sidama 4.1%, Guragie 2.6%, Welaita 2.3%, Afar 2.2%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 13.5% (2022 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Oromo (official regional working language) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official regional working language) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official regional working language) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official regional working language) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (2007 est.)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Aksum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c); Gedeo Cultural Landscape (c); Bale Mountains National Park (n); Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia (c)
" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "low-income, fast-growing Horn of Africa economy; widespread poverty and food insecurity worsened by conflict and environmental factors; landlocked with tensions over seaport access; development aid supporting reforms to boost private-sector growth and financial stability; challenge of creating jobs for growing labor force
" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$354.604 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$332.968 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$316.145 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "6.5% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "5.32% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "5.64% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$2,800 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$2,700 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$2,600 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$163.698 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "30.2% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "33.9% (2022 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "26.8% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "35.8% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "24.5% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "37% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "78.9% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "6.3% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "22.2% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "6.6% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-14% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "6.93% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "54.47 million (2024 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2024": { "text": "3.4% (2024 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "3.4% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "3.4% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "5.4% (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "4% (2024 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "7.2% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "23.5% (2015 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015": { "text": "35 (2015 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "37.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "2.9% (2015 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "28.5% (2015 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.33% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$7.009 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$8.83 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2019": { "text": "31.4% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government debt as a % of GDP" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "3.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "-$4.788 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "-$5.16 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$4.507 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2023": { "text": "$10.865 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$10.971 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$9.496 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "USA 12%, China 10%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2023": { "text": "$22.951 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$24.187 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$20.859 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 26%, Djibouti 16%, India 7%, Kuwait 7%, Saudi Arabia 6% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, raw sugar, cars (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024": { "text": "$3.784 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$2.028 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$1.192 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$25.426 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "birr (ETB) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "54.601 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "51.756 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "43.734 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "34.927 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "29.07 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "55% (2022 est.)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "94%" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "43%" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "5.69 million kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "12.298 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "1.762 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "4.194 billion kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "solar": { "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "456,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "1.653 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "428,000 barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "proven reserves": { "text": "24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "18.519 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "3.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "15.092 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "2.366 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "862,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "1 (2022 est.) less than 1" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "71.4 million (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "56 (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "10 public/state broadcasters; 9 public/state radio stations; 13 commercial FM radio stations; 18 commercial TV stations; 45 community radio stations; 5 community TV stations (2023)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".et" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "17% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "566,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "ET" }, "Airports": { "text": "58 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2025)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge" }, "note": "note: electric railway with redundant power supplies; under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia and managed by a Chinese contractor" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "12 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 10, oil tanker 2" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF; aka Federal Defense Force of Ethiopia, FDRE): Army, Air Force, Naval Force, Defense Cyber Main Directorate (2025)", "note": "note 1: national and regional police forces are responsible for law enforcement and maintenance of order, with the ENDF sometimes providing internal security support; the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) report to the Prime Minister’s Office