What share of Ethiopia's population lives in Mekele?

That is about 0.4% of Ethiopia's 2024 population as estimated by the World Bank (132.06 million).

Mekele: population and official figures

Population (city proper)

502,743

1 July 2024

What is the population of Mekele?

Mekele had 502,743 inhabitants (city proper) on 1 July 2024, according to an official estimate (people present) reported to the United Nations.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copy

How does Mekele rank among cities in Ethiopia?

Of the 25 cities the UN table lists for Ethiopia (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is 4th largest.

Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copy

How many women and men live in Mekele?

Women and girls made up 49.2% of residents (247,531 female, 255,212 male).

Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copy

The UN marks this figure as an estimate of lower reliability.

Who runs Mekele?

In Ethiopia, cities and towns are run by regional states: Directly elected state councils; regional president chosen by the council. Tigray has had a federally appointed interim administration since 2023.. Own constitutions, laws, police, courts; set up local government.

How local power works in Ethiopia

Cities of a similar size in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa 4,030,000
Gondar 509,063
Nazareth 504,345
Awassa 462,762
Bahir Dar 382,361
Dire Dawa 366,000

Up a level: all cities in Ethiopia · Ethiopia · government and power

Sources

United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, technical notes to Table 8, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b0d2d6d8ccd6…)

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