Tigray: population, jobs, migration, health, water and sanitation
Tigray is a regional state of Ethiopia, number 6 of 14 by population. The Ethiopian Statistical Service projects the population of the Tigray region at 6,134,000 for July 2026 (3,033,000 male, 3,101,000 female), 5.4% of Ethiopia's 113.81 million; 6th largest of the 14 regions and city administrations. Ethiopia's last census was in 2007, so every regional figure is a projection from that count.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Tigray: 12.0% of Tigray's labour force (people aged 10 and over working or looking for work) was unemployed in the 2024/25 National Integrated Household Survey, about 297,000 people; 3rd highest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 9.6%).
- Health in Tigray: For every 1,000 babies born in Tigray in the ten years before the 2024-25 survey, 54 died before their first birthday and 66 before their fifth; the under-five rate is 4th highest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia, last five years: 39 and 51).
How fast is Tigray's population growing?
The projections add 99,000 people to Tigray between July 2025 and July 2026, growth of 1.64% in a year (Ethiopia: 1.93%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in Tigray live in towns?
35.1% of Tigray's people are projected to live in towns and cities in 2026 (2,150,000 urban, 3,984,000 rural), 5th most urban of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 24.7%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service · saved copyHow many children do women in Tigray have?
Women in Tigray have 4.6 children each on average, according to the 2024-25 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, joint 3rd highest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 4.0).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyAre people moving to or away from Tigray?
The 2024/25 National Integrated Household Survey found net migration of -5.0 recent migrants per 1,000 residents in Tigray, meaning more people left than moved in; 4th lowest of the 14 regions and city administrations.
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service · saved copyHow common is domestic violence in Tigray?
23.5% of women in Tigray who had ever had a husband or partner had suffered emotional, physical or sexual violence from their current or most recent partner, and 12.6% physical violence; 3rd lowest of the 14 regions and city administrations (Ethiopia: 29.8%).
Source: Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow regional states are governed in Ethiopia
Regional states (12) and chartered cities (2: Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa). 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.
Every tier of government in Ethiopia
Other regional states of Ethiopia
- Oromia 43,589,000
- Amhara 24,207,000
- South Ethiopia 8,093,428
- Somali 7,106,000
- Central Ethiopia 6,683,946
- Sidama 5,033,486
- Addis Ababa 4,198,000
- South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region 3,592,142
- Afar 2,200,000
- Benishangul-Gumuz 1,346,000
- Dire Dawa 598,000
- Gambella 572,000
- Harari 303,000
Up a level: Ethiopia · government and power in Ethiopia · cities
Sources
- Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program): Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2024-25, Summary Report: regional indicator table (water, sanitation, fertility, child mortality), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 11639969304a…)
- Ethiopian Statistical Service (with ICF, The DHS Program): Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2024-25, Key Indicators Report: Tables 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17.1 and 18 by region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36b60096ac11…)
- Ethiopian Statistical Service: National Integrated Household Survey 2024/25: Labour Force Key Findings (Appendix Summary Tables 1 and 3, Tables B1-B4), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 621e313a7446…)
- Ethiopian Statistical Service: National Integrated Household Survey 2024/25: Migration Key Findings (Table 4.6: regional net migration), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e7f1f7aad215…)
- Ethiopian Statistical Service: Population Size by Sex, Area and Density by Region, Zone and Wereda: July 2026 (projection from the 2007 census), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d73f105efd1…)
- Ethiopian Statistical Service: Population Size by Sex, Area and Density by Region, Zone and Wereda: July 2025 (projection from the 2007 census), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 724f5cd79d33…)
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