Quick facts
Jijiga overview
Jijiga (orange) and the other large cities of Ethiopia
Jijiga lies in Somali in Ethiopia at 9.35°N, 42.8°E, about 1,646 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 Addis Ababa (3,860,000) and larger than Gonder (466,000). 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 446 km away; the nearest large city is Harar, 75 km from Jijiga.
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 Jijiga
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Harar Harari | 75 km | 157,000 |
| Ārabī Somali | 76 km | 148,933 |
| Dire Dawa Dire Dawa | 106 km | 343,000 |
Largest cities in Ethiopia
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Jijiga?
Jijiga has about 483,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Jijiga the capital of Ethiopia?
No. The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa (3,860,000 people), about 446 km away. Jijiga is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Jijiga compared with the rest of Ethiopia?
Its 483,000 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 Jijiga?
In Somali, Ethiopia, at latitude 9.35 and longitude 42.8, 1,646 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Harar (75 km), Ārabī (76 km), Dire Dawa (106 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Jijiga Population 2026 — Ethiopia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/ethiopia/jijiga/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/ethiopia/jijiga/">Jijiga 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.