Quick facts
Mek'ele overview
Mek'ele (orange) and the other large cities of Ethiopia
Mek'ele lies in Tigray in Ethiopia at 13.5°N, 39.48°E, about 2,068 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 Gonder (466,000) and larger than Nazrēt (456,900). 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 504 km away; the nearest large city is Ādīgrat, 87 km from Mek'ele.
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 Mek'ele
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ādīgrat Tigray | 87 km | 121,800 |
| Inda Silasē Tigray | 145 km | 100,100 |
| Weldiya Amhara | 186 km | 104,000 |
Largest cities in Ethiopia
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mek'ele?
Mek'ele has about 457,900 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Mek'ele the capital of Ethiopia?
No. The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa (3,860,000 people), about 504 km away. Mek'ele is the 4th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Mek'ele compared with the rest of Ethiopia?
Its 457,900 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 Mek'ele?
In Tigray, Ethiopia, at latitude 13.5 and longitude 39.48, 2,068 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Ādīgrat (87 km), Inda Silasē (145 km), Weldiya (186 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Mek'ele Population 2026 — Ethiopia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/ethiopia/mek-ele/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/ethiopia/mek-ele/">Mek'ele 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.