Ethiopia: housing

How many people live in an Ethiopian household?

Ethiopian households have 4.4 members on average, and women head 28% of them, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS 2024/25 summary report.

The survey also records housing conditions and possessions. One in ten households owns a refrigerator, 26% in urban areas and 2% in rural areas, and 4% own a car, truck or motorcycle. Household surveys like the EDHS are a main official source on how people live. ESS publishes its household surveys on its households statistics page.

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

How many Ethiopians have electricity at home?

64% of Ethiopia's household population has access to electricity, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS 2024/25 summary report. 89% use clean fuels or technologies for lighting, such as electricity, solar lanterns or solar home systems.

The World Bank puts access to electricity at 56.6% of the population in 2024, from a different source and definition. Both include off-grid solar. Grid electricity is distributed by the Ethiopian Electric Utility. Access is far higher in towns than in rural areas, where most Ethiopians live.

Official sources: ESS: EDHS 2024/25 summary report (PDF) · World Bank: access to electricity, Ethiopia · Ethiopian Electric Utility

How many Ethiopians have clean water and toilets?

57% of Ethiopia's household population has at least basic drinking water service and 31% at least basic sanitation, according to the Ethiopian Statistical Service EDHS 2024/25 summary report. 27% practise open defecation and 7% have a basic handwashing facility with soap and water at home.

Basic drinking water means an improved source, such as a piped supply, borehole or protected well, within a 30-minute round trip. Basic sanitation means an improved toilet not shared with other households. Access to basic drinking water ranges from 30% in Afar to 91% in Addis Ababa. 71% of the household population does not have drinking water on the premises.

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

How many Ethiopians live in cities?

24.1% of Ethiopia's population lived in urban areas in 2025, up from 22.7% in 2022, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators. Ethiopia's total population was about 135.5 million in 2025, according to the World Bank.

About three in four Ethiopians still live in rural areas. The Ethiopian Statistical Service migration key findings estimate 5,244,131 recent internal migrants in 2024/25, 54.8% of them living in urban areas, with searching for work the main reason for moving.

Official sources: World Bank: urban population share, Ethiopia · World Bank: population, Ethiopia · ESS: NIHS 2024/25 migration key findings (PDF)

How many people in Ethiopia live in cities?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is 24.1%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 44.9%, and Ethiopia placed 45th highest of 48. Worldwide: 183rd of 193.

What share of Ethiopia's city dwellers live in slums?

In 2022, the share of city dwellers living in slums in Ethiopia was 64.3%, according to UN-Habitat. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2006. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 48.7%, and Ethiopia placed 14th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 15th of 170.

What is the electricity access rate in Ethiopia?

According to the World Bank, the share of people with access to electricity in Ethiopia was 56.6% in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 57.8%; Ethiopia is 25th highest of 48. Worldwide: 168th of 193.

How many people in Ethiopia have clean water?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 13.5%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 27.2%, and Ethiopia placed 21st highest of 25. World rank, highest first: 129th of 134.

What share of people in Ethiopia have safe sanitation?

8.1%: that is the share of people using safely managed sanitation in Ethiopia for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 23.6%; Ethiopia is 29th highest of 29. Of 134 countries with 2024 data, 134th highest.

How many people in Ethiopia cook with wood or charcoal?

In 2024, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Ethiopia was 7.0%, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 32nd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 13.0%. World rank, highest first: 175th of 192.