Administrative divisions of Ethiopia
Ethiopia is divided into 11 first-level administrative divisions:
Largest cities in Ethiopia
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addis AbabaCapital | 3,860,000 |
| 2 | Jijiga | 483,000 |
| 3 | Gonder | 466,000 |
| 4 | Mek'ele | 457,900 |
| 5 | NazrΔt | 456,900 |
| 6 | Warder | 450,400 |
| 7 | Awasa | 422,200 |
| 8 | Bahir Dar | 350,000 |
| 9 | Dire Dawa | 343,000 |
| 10 | Dessie | 270,400 |
Addis Ababa is the largest city in Ethiopia with about 3,860,000 people. All 30 largest cities of Ethiopia β
Terrain, rivers & lakes
Highest terrain in Ethiopia: β 4,515 m β read from the global elevation model, so summit heights are approximate. The physical map paints elevation bands from green lowlands to brown highlands.
π Rivers
- Genale
- Omo
- Setit
- Jubba
- Akobo
- Shebele
- Sobat
- Awash
- Abay
- Tekeze
- El Bahr el Azraq
ποΈ Lakes
- Lake Tana
- Lake Adobed
- Koka Reservoir
- Lake Gemeri
- Lake Turkana
- Lake Abaya
- Chew Bahir
- Lake Chamo
- Lake Abbe
Ethnic groups in Ethiopia
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.)
Regionally, Oromo is the most common ethnic group across most of the 11 divisions, while Amhara predominates in 2 divisions (Amhara, Addis Ababa); Sidama predominates in 1 division (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples); Somali predominates in 1 division (Somali); Afar predominates in 1 division (Afar).
Source: CIA World Factbook (2022 est.) Β· regional dominance compiled by Glostats from censuses and surveys
Religions in Ethiopia
Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.)
Regionally, Muslim is the most common religious group across most of the 11 divisions, while Ethiopian Orthodox predominates in 3 divisions (Amhara, Tigray, Addis Ababa); Protestant predominates in 2 divisions (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples, Gambela Peoples).
Source: CIA World Factbook (2016 est.) Β· regional dominance compiled by Glostats from censuses and surveys
Languages in Ethiopia
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%
Regionally, Oromo is the most common language group across most of the 11 divisions, while Amharic predominates in 2 divisions (Amhara, Addis Ababa); Sidamo predominates in 1 division (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples); Somali predominates in 1 division (Somali); Afar predominates in 1 division (Afar).
Source: CIA World Factbook (2007 est.) Β· regional dominance compiled by Glostats from censuses and surveys
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UgandaSources: boundaries, cities, rivers and lakes from Natural Earth (public domain, 1:10m); elevation from the AWS Open Data terrain tiles (SRTM/GMTED); ethnic, religious and language shares from the CIA World Factbook; regional dominance compiled by Glostats from national censuses and surveys. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.