Ethiopia
Africa · Eastern Africa
Fastest-growing African economy, very low cost, with internal regional conflicts.
At a Glance
📈Ethiopia's Human Development Index
0.492
Low human development#174 of 191 countries worldwide, #39 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 9% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Never colonised — one of only two African countries to successfully resist European occupation.
- Origin of coffee: the word 'coffee' comes from the Kaffa region in southern Ethiopia.
- Fastest-growing economy in Africa for several consecutive years before recent conflicts.
Quick Facts
Capital
Addis Ababa
Language
Amharic
Currency
Br ETB
Area
1.13M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
11Mbps
GDP / Capita
$933
PPP / Capita
$4K
Inflation
13.2%
Unemployment
3.3%
Innovation (GII)
14.4
GNI / Capita
$1K
Tax Revenue
3.4%
FDI Inflows
2.7%
Education Spend
2.3%
Cost of Living
41.8
Price Level Index
92nd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 2000
0.286 → 0.492 (+0.206)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 23 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Ethiopia's Human Development Index?
Ethiopia's Human Development Index is 0.492 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #174 of 191 countries.
Is Ethiopia safe?
Ethiopia scores 2.65 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #136 of 160 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.