Urban area over the long-term in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Urban area over the long-term was 2,256 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,256 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
56th
of 202 countries
All-time high
2,256 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0005 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Ethiopia, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 2,256 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 55.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Ethiopia peaked at 2,256 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0005 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Ethiopia ranks 56th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0018 km² per grid cell | +245.0% |
| 1200 | 0.006 km² per grid cell | +239.1% |
| 1300 | 0.0213 km² per grid cell | +253.8% |
| 1400 | 0.0738 km² per grid cell | +245.7% |
| 1500 | 0.2505 km² per grid cell | +239.6% |
| 1600 | 0.8454 km² per grid cell | +237.5% |
| 1700 | 2.82 km² per grid cell | +233.3% |
| 1710 | 3.96 km² per grid cell | +40.7% |
| 1720 | 5.21 km² per grid cell | +31.3% |
| 1730 | 6.65 km² per grid cell | +27.7% |
| 1740 | 8.32 km² per grid cell | +25.1% |
| 1750 | 10.24 km² per grid cell | +23.2% |
| 1760 | 12.46 km² per grid cell | +21.7% |
| 1770 | 15.01 km² per grid cell | +20.4% |
| 1780 | 17.93 km² per grid cell | +19.5% |
| 1790 | 21.27 km² per grid cell | +18.6% |
| 1800 | 25.09 km² per grid cell | +17.9% |
| 1810 | 29.43 km² per grid cell | +17.3% |
| 1820 | 34.38 km² per grid cell | +16.8% |
| 1830 | 40 km² per grid cell | +16.3% |
| 1840 | 46.38 km² per grid cell | +15.9% |
| 1850 | 53.58 km² per grid cell | +15.5% |
| 1860 | 58.6 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1870 | 63.99 km² per grid cell | +9.2% |
| 1880 | 70.34 km² per grid cell | +9.9% |
| 1890 | 76.86 km² per grid cell | +9.3% |
| 1900 | 83.15 km² per grid cell | +8.2% |
| 1910 | 94.01 km² per grid cell | +13.1% |
| 1920 | 103 km² per grid cell | +9.6% |
| 1930 | 114.39 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1940 | 121.26 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1950 | 134.7 km² per grid cell | +11.1% |
| 1951 | 139.98 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 145.47 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1953 | 151.13 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1954 | 157.05 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1955 | 163.17 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1956 | 169.59 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1957 | 176.3 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 183.38 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1959 | 190.85 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1960 | 198.75 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1961 | 207.14 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 216.03 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 225.39 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 235.25 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1965 | 245.58 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 256.35 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1967 | 267.54 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 275.68 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 284.23 km² per grid cell | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 293.32 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 302.25 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 312.39 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 322.62 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 331.53 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 338.24 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 346.47 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 352.54 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 358.15 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 365.63 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 376.65 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 385.22 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 397.6 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 413.21 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 430.97 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 450.27 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 467.21 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 485.58 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 505.65 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 527.88 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 552.61 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 576.73 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 603.18 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 631.41 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 660.43 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 690.21 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 716.41 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 742.38 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 768.52 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 795.53 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 823.92 km² per grid cell | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 851.94 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 880.99 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 911.02 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 941.92 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 973.62 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 1,006 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 1,040 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 1,074 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 1,110 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 1,147 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 1,203 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 1,261 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 1,322 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 1,384 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 1,449 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 1,517 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 1,586 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 1,658 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 1,732 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 1,801 km² per grid cell | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 1,894 km² per grid cell | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 1,981 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 2,070 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 2,162 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 2,256 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 2,256 km² per grid cell is above the median for low income countries, which is 889.43 km² per grid cell, 2.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 2,256 km² per grid cell is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 733.88 km² per grid cell, 3.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | +253.8% | 0.006 km² per grid cell | 0.0213 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +245.7% | 0.0213 km² per grid cell | 0.0738 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +245.0% | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0018 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +239.6% | 0.0738 km² per grid cell | 0.2505 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +239.1% | 0.0018 km² per grid cell | 0.006 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +237.5% | 0.2505 km² per grid cell | 0.8454 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 0.0005 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0018 km² per grid cell | 0.0018 km² per grid cell | 0.0018 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.006 km² per grid cell | 0.006 km² per grid cell | 0.006 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0213 km² per grid cell | 0.0213 km² per grid cell | 0.0213 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0738 km² per grid cell | 0.0738 km² per grid cell | 0.0738 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2505 km² per grid cell | 0.2505 km² per grid cell | 0.2505 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.8454 km² per grid cell | 0.8454 km² per grid cell | 0.8454 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.82 km² per grid cell | 2.82 km² per grid cell | 2.82 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.96 km² per grid cell | 3.96 km² per grid cell | 3.96 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 5.21 km² per grid cell | 5.21 km² per grid cell | 5.21 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 6.65 km² per grid cell | 6.65 km² per grid cell | 6.65 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 8.32 km² per grid cell | 8.32 km² per grid cell | 8.32 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 10.24 km² per grid cell | 10.24 km² per grid cell | 10.24 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 12.46 km² per grid cell | 12.46 km² per grid cell | 12.46 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 15.01 km² per grid cell | 15.01 km² per grid cell | 15.01 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 17.93 km² per grid cell | 17.93 km² per grid cell | 17.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 21.27 km² per grid cell | 21.27 km² per grid cell | 21.27 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 25.09 km² per grid cell | 25.09 km² per grid cell | 25.09 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 29.43 km² per grid cell | 29.43 km² per grid cell | 29.43 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 34.38 km² per grid cell | 34.38 km² per grid cell | 34.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 40 km² per grid cell | 40 km² per grid cell | 40 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 46.38 km² per grid cell | 46.38 km² per grid cell | 46.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 53.58 km² per grid cell | 53.58 km² per grid cell | 53.58 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 58.6 km² per grid cell | 58.6 km² per grid cell | 58.6 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 63.99 km² per grid cell | 63.99 km² per grid cell | 63.99 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 70.34 km² per grid cell | 70.34 km² per grid cell | 70.34 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 76.86 km² per grid cell | 76.86 km² per grid cell | 76.86 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 83.15 km² per grid cell | 83.15 km² per grid cell | 83.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 94.01 km² per grid cell | 94.01 km² per grid cell | 94.01 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 103 km² per grid cell | 103 km² per grid cell | 103 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 114.39 km² per grid cell | 114.39 km² per grid cell | 114.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 121.26 km² per grid cell | 121.26 km² per grid cell | 121.26 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 161.16 km² per grid cell | 134.7 km² per grid cell | 190.85 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 241.19 km² per grid cell | 198.75 km² per grid cell | 284.23 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 332.31 km² per grid cell | 293.32 km² per grid cell | 365.63 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 444.02 km² per grid cell | 376.65 km² per grid cell | 527.88 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 673.74 km² per grid cell | 552.61 km² per grid cell | 795.53 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 961.27 km² per grid cell | 823.92 km² per grid cell | 1,110 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,426 km² per grid cell | 1,147 km² per grid cell | 1,732 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,027 km² per grid cell | 1,801 km² per grid cell | 2,256 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
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 urban area over the long-term in Ethiopia?
- Urban area over the long-term in Ethiopia was 2,256 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 2,256 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0005 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Ethiopia rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Ethiopia ranks 56th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.