Ethiopia: health and care

What is the infant mortality rate in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia's infant mortality rate was 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in the five years before the 2024/25 Demographic and Health Survey, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS 2024/25 summary report. The neonatal rate was 25 and the under-five rate 51. In 2000 the infant rate was 97 and the under-five rate 166.

Survey rates are based on mothers' birth histories and refer to an average over the five years before the interviews, so they lag slightly behind the present. Most child deaths now happen in the first month of life, which is why the survey tracks the neonatal rate separately. Regional rates in the full report are less precise because of smaller samples.

Official sources: ESS: EDHS 2024/25 summary report (PDF)

What is the maternal mortality rate in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia's maternal mortality ratio was 141 deaths per 100,000 live births in the seven years before the 2024/25 Demographic and Health Survey, with a confidence interval of 87 to 195, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS 2024/25 summary report.

The wide range shows how hard maternal deaths are to measure in a survey, since they are rare events reported by relatives. The UN inter-agency modelled estimate, published by the World Bank, was 195 in 2023 and uses a different method, so the two figures should not be compared directly. Both point to a long-term decline.

Official sources: ESS: EDHS 2024/25 summary report (PDF) · World Bank: maternal mortality ratio, modelled estimate, Ethiopia

What is life expectancy in Ethiopia?

Life expectancy at birth in Ethiopia was 67.6 years in 2024, up from 67.3 in 2023, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators.

The figure is a modelled estimate. It shows how long a baby born that year would live if death rates stayed as they were. Falling child mortality is a large part of the long-run rise: the Ethiopian Statistical Service 2024/25 Demographic and Health Survey finds under-five mortality fell from 166 to 51 per 1,000 births since 2000. The World Bank also publishes separate estimates for men and women.

Official sources: World Bank: life expectancy at birth, Ethiopia · ESS: EDHS 2024/25 summary report (PDF)

How many children in Ethiopia are stunted?

40% of children under five in Ethiopia are stunted, or too short for their age, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS 2024/25 summary report. Stunting ranges from 15% in Addis Ababa to 52% in Benishangul-Gumuz.

Stunting is an indication of chronic undernutrition, and the survey measures it by comparing children's measured height with an international reference standard. It has fallen from 58% in 2000. Because it reflects nutrition and illness over years rather than months, stunting changes slowly and is best compared between survey rounds rather than year to year.

Official sources: ESS: EDHS 2024/25 summary report (PDF)

How many children in Ethiopia are vaccinated?

30% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Ethiopia had received all basic vaccinations, and 20% had received none, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS 2024/25 summary report.

Basic vaccinations are BCG, three doses of DTwP-Hib-HepB, three doses of polio vaccine and one dose of measles. Coverage ranges from 9% in Somali to 82% in Addis Ababa, and has risen from 14% in 2000. The share with no vaccinations rose from 17% to 20% over the same period. Only 21% are fully vaccinated under the full national schedule run by the Ministry of Health.

Official sources: ESS: EDHS 2024/25 summary report (PDF) · Ministry of Health

How many doctors does Ethiopia have?

Ethiopia had 0.143 physicians per 1,000 people in 2023, about one doctor for every 7,000 people, up from 0.105 in 2022, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators. Current health spending was 2.8% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank.

The doctor ratio counts medical doctors only; the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS counts health officers, nurses and midwives as skilled providers too, so the wider health workforce is larger. The federal budget for 2026/27 allocates Birr 110.6 billion to health, Birr 18.8 billion recurrent and Birr 91.8 billion capital, according to the Ministry of Finance budget proclamation tables.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Ethiopia · World Bank: current health expenditure, Ethiopia · ESS: EDHS 2024/25 summary report (PDF) · Ministry of Finance: 2019 EFY federal budget proclamation, part two (Excel)

How long do people live in Ethiopia?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Ethiopia was 67.6 years in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 64.3 years, and Ethiopia placed 12th highest of 48. Worldwide: 146th of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in Ethiopia?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Ethiopia at 34.5 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 30th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 37.2 per 1,000. Worldwide: 36th of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Ethiopia?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in Ethiopia at 195 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 33rd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 257 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 37th highest.

What share of GDP does Ethiopia spend on health care?

The WHO puts current health spending in Ethiopia at 2.8% of GDP in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 4.4% of GDP; Ethiopia is 47th highest of 48. Worldwide: 181st of 191.

How much of health care in Ethiopia do patients pay for?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in Ethiopia was 46.3% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2011, at 46.5%; its low point was 2005, at 31.3%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 32.4%; Ethiopia is 15th highest of 48. Worldwide: 39th of 191.

How many doctors per person does Ethiopia have?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Ethiopia was 0.14 per 1,000 in 2023. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 0.18 per 1,000; Ethiopia is 10th highest of 16. Worldwide: 50th of 58.

How many hospital beds does Ethiopia have?

The WHO puts hospital beds per 1,000 people in Ethiopia at 0.33 per 1,000 in 2016. In 2008 the figure was 0.20 per 1,000. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.73 per 1,000, and Ethiopia placed 17th highest of 19. World rank, highest first: 137th of 140.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Ethiopia?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 72.0%. That is the highest since at least 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 81.0%; Ethiopia is 29th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 159th of 191.