Ethiopia
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
People: Ethiopian
Ethiopia is Africa's oldest independent country and the only one never formally colonised, following its own 13-month calendar. Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa and has a population of around 111.7 million. Its capital city is Addis Ababa, and the most widely spoken official language is Amharic. Ethiopia is landlocked, sharing borders with 6 neighbouring countries.
By the numbers, Ethiopia is the 14th most populous of the 196 countries covered on this site, home to 1.40% of the world's population. By land area it ranks 26th out of 196, with a population density of roughly 101 people per km².
Facts last checked 31 August 2026.
Ethiopia — key facts at a glance
| Official Name | Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Addis Ababa |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Eastern Africa |
| Population | 111,652,998 |
| Area | 1,104,300 km² |
| Currency | Ethiopian birr (ETB) Br |
| Official Language | Amharic |
| Dialling Code | +251 |
| Internet TLD | .et |
| Timezone | UTC+03:00 |
| Drives on the | Right side |
| Emergency Number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) |
| ISO Code | ET / ETH |
| Borders | Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan |
Travelling to Ethiopia?
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Getting to and around Ethiopia
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Planning a trip to Ethiopia?
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ethiopia
What is the capital and currency of Ethiopia?
The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa and the currency is the Ethiopian birr (ETB), symbol Br.
What is the capital of Ethiopia?
The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa.
What currency does Ethiopia use?
Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian birr (ETB, symbol: Br).
What language do they speak in Ethiopia?
The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic.
What is the dialling code for Ethiopia?
The international dialling code for Ethiopia is +251.
What side of the road does Ethiopia drive on?
Ethiopia drives on the right-hand side of the road.
Djibouti
Eritrea
Kenya
Somalia
South Sudan
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