GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Bikers and cars bustling in Addis Ababa's cityscape with iconic buildings and clear skies.Stunning view of Addis Ababa's skyline against a vibrant sunset backdrop.

Ethiopia

Africa · Eastern Africa

Low safetyAffordable cost of livingLow development

It is less peaceful than most countries.

vs Kenya
Safety

137th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.648lower is more peacefulLow safety
#137 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
49.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,110national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
18.3New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 394% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 202% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,622 PPP$933Inflation, % a year50%0200620102015202020252006, $189 a person, $693 at PPP, inflation 12.3%2007, $237 a person, $770 at PPP, inflation 17.2%2008, $316 a person, $845 at PPP, inflation 44.4%2009, $369 a person, $899 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2010, $331 a person, $996 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2011, $343 a person, $1,098 at PPP, inflation 33.2%2012, $452 a person, $1,179 at PPP, inflation 23.6%2013, $484 a person, $1,253 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2014, $550 a person, $1,485 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2015, $598 a person, $1,633 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2016, $642 a person, $1,858 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2017, $696 a person, $2,005 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2018, $740 a person, $2,095 at PPP, inflation 13.8%2019, $793 a person, $2,242 at PPP, inflation 15.8%2020, $830 a person, $2,407 at PPP, inflation 20.4%2021, $893 a person, $2,588 at PPP, inflation 26.8%2022, $982 a person, $2,844 at PPP, inflation 33.9%2023, $1,056 a person, $3,063 at PPP, inflation 30.2%2024, $1,134 a person, $3,292 at PPP, inflation 21%2025, $933 a person, $3,622 at PPP, inflation 13.2%$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year50%0200620102015202020252006, $189 a person, $693 at PPP, inflation 12.3%2007, $237 a person, $770 at PPP, inflation 17.2%2008, $316 a person, $845 at PPP, inflation 44.4%2009, $369 a person, $899 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2010, $331 a person, $996 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2011, $343 a person, $1,098 at PPP, inflation 33.2%2012, $452 a person, $1,179 at PPP, inflation 23.6%2013, $484 a person, $1,253 at PPP, inflation 7.5%2014, $550 a person, $1,485 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2015, $598 a person, $1,633 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2016, $642 a person, $1,858 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2017, $696 a person, $2,005 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2018, $740 a person, $2,095 at PPP, inflation 13.8%2019, $793 a person, $2,242 at PPP, inflation 15.8%2020, $830 a person, $2,407 at PPP, inflation 20.4%2021, $893 a person, $2,588 at PPP, inflation 26.8%2022, $982 a person, $2,844 at PPP, inflation 33.9%2023, $1,056 a person, $3,063 at PPP, inflation 30.2%2024, $1,134 a person, $3,292 at PPP, inflation 21%2025, $933 a person, $3,622 at PPP, inflation 13.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
67.6years, at birthLow
#148 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
33WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
21.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
3.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
11 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
499EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet11 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning view of Addis Ababa's skyline against a vibrant sunset backdrop.
How it changed

Ethiopia's Human Development Index

0.497Low human development

180th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 43rd of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #178Eritrea0.503
  2. #179Guinea0.500
  3. #180Ethiopia0.497
  4. #181Afghanistan0.496
  5. #182Mozambique0.493
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2000

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.293 in 2000 to 0.497 in 2023.

0.250.400.550.4972000201020232000: 0.2932001: 0.3072002: 0.3142003: 0.3172004: 0.3312005: 0.3502006: 0.3662007: 0.3832008: 0.3982009: 0.4052010: 0.4152011: 0.4252012: 0.4332013: 0.4412014: 0.4492015: 0.4562016: 0.4632017: 0.4702018: 0.4762019: 0.4822020: 0.4862021: 0.4872022: 0.4942023: 0.4970.250.400.552000201020232000: 0.2932001: 0.3072002: 0.3142003: 0.3172004: 0.3312005: 0.3502006: 0.3662007: 0.3832008: 0.3982009: 0.4052010: 0.4152011: 0.4252012: 0.4332013: 0.4412014: 0.4492015: 0.4562016: 0.4632017: 0.4702018: 0.4762019: 0.4822020: 0.4862021: 0.4872022: 0.4942023: 0.497

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 24 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
67.6 years2024at birthUp 13.2 years from 54.4 years in 2005
Internet users
22%2024of people onlineUp 22 points from 0% in 2006
Urban population
24%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 16% in 2006
Births per woman
3.912024births per womanDown 2.28 from 6.19 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
91%2021of energy usedDown 4 points from 94% in 2004
Access to electricity
57%2024of people with electricityUp 43 points from 14% in 2005
Infant mortality
352024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 40 from 74 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
15%2023of land under forestDown 1 point from 16% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Fastest-growing African economy, very low cost, with internal regional conflicts. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and patchy access to essential health services.

About Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of Africa's oldest civilisations and its most geographically dramatic, with the ancient churches of Lalibela carved into volcanic rock, the rugged Simien Mountains, the Great Rift Valley, and the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most otherworldly places on earth. The coffee culture here is the origin of the global tradition, and the cuisine is distinctive and deeply communal. It is a demanding but extraordinary destination for those willing to engage deeply.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAddis Ababa
  • LanguagesAmharic
  • CurrencyEthiopian birr (ETB)
  • Area1,128,499 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F/G
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Ethiopia against your priorities
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Everything we hold on Ethiopia

Compare Ethiopia

Borders

DjiboutiEritreaKenyaSomaliaSouth SudanSudan

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Quick answers

What is Ethiopia's Human Development Index?

Ethiopia's Human Development Index is 0.497 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #180 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Ethiopia safe?

Ethiopia scores 2.65 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #137 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Ethiopia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Ethiopia at 41.8 (New York = 100); that is #73 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Ethiopia?

Life expectancy at birth in Ethiopia is 67.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #148 of 195 countries.