DEMOGRAPHICS
General Information
Population – 131 mil. people (11th in the world). Ethiopia is the third most populous country in Africa.
The average annual population growth rate is about 2,53%. According to forecasts, the country's population may reach 140 mil. people by 2030.
The age structure of the population is characteristic of developing countries with high birth rates: population under 15 years old – 46,3%, population aged 15-64 – 51%, population over 65 years old – 2,7%. The median age of an Ethiopian resident is 18,6 years.
The sex ratio indicator – 0,99 men per one woman.
Population density – 118,6 people per sq. km. The population is distributed unevenly: the central highland regions are the most densely populated, while the eastern and southeastern lowlands have low population density. The share of the urban population is approximately 22,7% (about 29 mil people).
Ethnic and Confessional Composition
Ethnic Composition
More than 80 ethnic groups live in the country. The largest of them: Oromo – 35,8% of the population, Amhara – 24,1% of the population, Somali – 6,2% of the population, Tigray – 5,7% of the population, Sidama – 4,1% of the population, Gurage – 2,6% of the population, other ethnic groups – 21,5% of the population.
Confessional Composition
The religious composition of the population is characterized by significant diversity: Christians – 62,8%, Muslims – 34,6%, folk beliefs – 2,6%.
State Language
The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic. It is used in government institutions, the education system, and official record-keeping.
The English language is widely used as a language of international communication in business and education, especially in higher education institutions, and is the most common foreign language. The most common languages after Amharic and English: Oromo – the language of the largest ethnic group, common in central and southern Ethiopia, Somali – dominates in the Somali Region, Tigrinya – common in the Tigray Region, Sidamo – the language of the Sidama people, Wolaytta – the language of the Wolayta people.
Ethiopia is characterized by significant internal migration flows from rural areas to cities, as well as from low-fertility areas to regions more favorable for agriculture.