Quick facts
Bahir Dar overview
Bahir Dar (orange) and the other large cities of Ethiopia
Bahir Dar lies in Amhara in Ethiopia at 11.59°N, 37.39°E, about 1,799 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Addis_Ababa (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Awasa (422,200) and larger than Dire Dawa (343,000). The largest city in Ethiopia is Addis Ababa with 3,860,000 people; the capital, Addis Ababa, has 3,860,000.
The national capital, Addis Ababa, is about 322 km away; the nearest large city is Debre Tabor, 74 km from Bahir Dar.
Ethiopia as a whole has a live population of 139,903,529 (+2.5% a year) and ranks #10 of 238 countries — see the Ethiopia population page for the full statistics and the Ethiopia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Bahir Dar
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Debre Tabor Amhara | 74 km | 125,300 |
| Gonder Amhara | 112 km | 466,000 |
| Debre Mark’os Amhara | 143 km | 140,700 |
Largest cities in Ethiopia
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bahir Dar?
Bahir Dar has about 350,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Bahir Dar the capital of Ethiopia?
No. The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa (3,860,000 people), about 322 km away. Bahir Dar is the 8th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Bahir Dar compared with the rest of Ethiopia?
Its 350,000 residents are 0.3% of the 139,903,529 people living in Ethiopia today. Addis Ababa is larger with 3,860,000 people.
Where is Bahir Dar?
In Amhara, Ethiopia, at latitude 11.59 and longitude 37.39, 1,799 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Debre Tabor (74 km), Gonder (112 km), Debre Mark’os (143 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Bahir Dar Population 2026 — Ethiopia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/ethiopia/bahir-dar/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/ethiopia/bahir-dar/">Bahir Dar Population 2026 — Ethiopia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.