Air passengers in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Air passengers was 15.27 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Ethiopia, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 15.27 million for air passengers in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is up 41.8% on the previous year and up 169.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Ethiopia peaked at 15.27 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 185,800, in 1978.
That places Ethiopia 43rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 231,600 | — |
| 1971 | 263,100 | +13.6% |
| 1972 | 288,500 | +9.7% |
| 1973 | 309,200 | +7.2% |
| 1974 | 268,700 | -13.1% |
| 1975 | 244,300 | -9.1% |
| 1976 | 288,000 | +17.9% |
| 1977 | 226,100 | -21.5% |
| 1978 | 185,800 | -17.8% |
| 1979 | 197,400 | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 242,900 | +23.0% |
| 1981 | 327,600 | +34.9% |
| 1982 | 335,300 | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 357,500 | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 398,800 | +11.6% |
| 1985 | 471,200 | +18.2% |
| 1986 | 527,500 | +11.9% |
| 1987 | 594,100 | +12.6% |
| 1988 | 592,600 | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 650,800 | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 620,300 | -4.7% |
| 1991 | 635,600 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 756,400 | +19.0% |
| 1993 | 752,000 | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 716,400 | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 749,900 | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 743,000 | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 772,300 | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 789,900 | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 861,400 | +9.1% |
| 2000 | 944,595 | +9.7% |
| 2001 | 1.03 million | +8.8% |
| 2002 | 1.10 million | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 1.12 million | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 1.40 million | +25.6% |
| 2005 | 1.67 million | +18.8% |
| 2006 | 1.72 million | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 2.29 million | +33.1% |
| 2008 | 2.72 million | +18.6% |
| 2009 | 2.91 million | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 3.35 million | +14.9% |
| 2011 | 4.44 million | +32.7% |
| 2012 | 5.00 million | +12.6% |
| 2013 | 5.67 million | +13.4% |
| 2014 | 6.27 million | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 7.07 million | +12.8% |
| 2016 | 8.24 million | +16.5% |
| 2017 | 9.57 million | +16.1% |
| 2018 | 11.50 million | +20.2% |
| 2019 | 12.63 million | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 4.94 million | -60.9% |
| 2021 | 7.07 million | +43.0% |
| 2022 | 10.77 million | +52.4% |
| 2023 | 15.27 million | +41.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 15.27 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 48,278, 316.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 15.27 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 109,542, 139.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -60.9% | 12.63 million | 4.94 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 250,270 | 185,800 | 309,200 | 10 |
| 1980s | 449,830 | 242,900 | 650,800 | 10 |
| 1990s | 739,720 | 620,300 | 861,400 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.69 million | 944,595 | 2.91 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.38 million | 3.35 million | 12.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.51 million | 4.94 million | 15.27 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 40 Egypt 16.67 million compare
- 41 Panama 15.75 million compare
- 42 South Africa 15.45 million compare
- 44 New Zealand 15.03 million compare
- 45 Norway 12.28 million compare
- 46 Kazakhstan 11.88 million compare
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Ethiopia?
- Air passengers in Ethiopia was 15.27 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.27 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 185,800 in 1978.
- How does Ethiopia rank for air passengers?
- Ethiopia ranks 43rd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 169.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.