Situated in Eastern Africa, Ethiopia 🇪🇹 (officially Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) is one of the most interesting places you can land on when you spin the globe. With a population of about 132.1 million and a total area of 1,104,300 km², it offers far more than its statistics suggest.
Whether you discovered Ethiopia through our random country spinner or searched for it directly, this guide covers everything you need to know: the flag, the capital city of Addis Ababa, population figures, languages, currency, geography and a collection of memorable facts.
Where is Ethiopia located?
Geographically, Ethiopia belongs to Eastern Africa within Africa. Its territory spans approximately 1,104,300 km², which makes it the 28th largest country or territory on Earth.
As a landlocked country, Ethiopia has no direct access to the open ocean, which has shaped its trade routes, cuisine and history in distinctive ways. It shares land borders with Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
The capital city is Addis Ababa, the political and cultural heart of the country and usually the first stop for visitors who want to understand how ethiopian life really works.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in Ethiopia?
Around 132.1 million people live in Ethiopia, making it the 10th most populous country or territory in the world. A person from Ethiopia is called a Ethiopian.
The main language spoken here is Amharic. Learning even a handful of phrases before a visit goes a long way with locals.
Beyond the numbers, everyday culture in Ethiopia — from markets and music to family traditions — is what makes discovering it through a random spin so rewarding.
Good to know before you go
The official currency is the Ethiopian birr (ETB, symbol Br). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Ethiopia is +251. Websites from the country typically use the .et internet domain.
Quiz tip: the three facts most worth memorising about Ethiopia are its flag, its capital Addis Ababa, and its approximate population of 132.1 million.
Neighbouring countries
Ethiopia shares borders with 6 countries:
Fun facts about Ethiopia
- Ethiopia's flag emoji is 🇪🇹 — its two-letter country code is ET and its three-letter code is ETH.
- Ethiopia covers 1,104,300 km², ranking 28th in the world by area.
- With about 132.1 million people, Ethiopia holds the 10th spot in the world population ranking.
- Ethiopia is a member state of the United Nations.
- Ethiopia is one of the world's landlocked countries — it has no sea coastline.
Ethiopia — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Ethiopia?
- The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa.
- What is the population of Ethiopia?
- Ethiopia has a population of approximately 132,059,767 people, ranking 10th in the world.
- Where is Ethiopia located?
- Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa, part of the Africa region. It is a landlocked country.
- What language is spoken in Ethiopia?
- The main language spoken in Ethiopia is Amharic.
- What currency is used in Ethiopia?
- Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian birr (ETB).
