“Ethiopia's economic growth is hindered by humanitarian and health challenges, with a high need score driven by conflict, poverty, and underdeveloped infrastructure. The country's opportunity score is boosted by connectivity and economic growth, but stability is threatened by governance issues. Despite progress in mobile subscriptions and poverty reduction, Ethiopia faces significant development challenges.”
36/100
Need
Humanitarian pressure
39/100
Opportunity
Growth potential
38/100
Stability
Governance score
Humanitarian ResponseWASHFood SecurityHealth
AI Brief
ETHUpdated today
Ethiopia's Economic Growth Masks Humanitarian and Health Pressures
Ethiopia's economic growth is hindered by humanitarian and health challenges, with a high need score driven by conflict, poverty, and underdeveloped infrastructure. The country's opportunity score is boosted by connectivity and economic growth, but stability is threatened by governance issues. Despite progress in mobile subscriptions and poverty reduction, Ethiopia faces significant development challenges.
•Ethiopia's GDP growth of 7.61% (2024) is among the highest in Africa, but this masks underlying humanitarian and health pressures.
•The country's high need score is driven by conflict pressure (Very High, ACLED, 2026) and underdeveloped infrastructure, including low electricity access (25.50%, UN SDG, 2010) and internet access (22%, GSMA, 2025).
•Ethiopia has made progress in reducing poverty, with the poverty headcount rate decreasing to 38.60% (World Bank, 2021), but still remains one of the poorest countries in the world.
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Did you know?
Ethiopia is home to the oldest human fossils ever discovered, with the 3.2 million-year-old fossil 'Lucy' found in Hadar, Afar Region, in 1974.
Conflict pressure remains Very High (ACLED, 2026), posing a significant risk to stability and development.
Key Indicators
Bank Account Ownership
48.83%
% of adults with a bank or mobile money account. Africa average: ~55%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Agricultural Land
34.08% land
% of land used for crops or livestock. Africa average: ~43%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
Conflict Pressure
Very High
ACLED (2026)Updated today
Internet Access
22%
GSMA (2025)Updated today
Government Education Expenditure
2.3% GDP
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Electricity Access
25.5%
Share of population with access to electricity. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~47%.
UN SDG (2010)Updated today
Energy Use per Capita
382.18kg oil eq
World Bank (2023)Updated today
FDI Inflows
2.69% GDP
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Female Labour Force Participation
43.07%
Share of women ages 15+ who are employed or seeking work. Global average: ~47%.
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Forest Area
14.93% land
% of land covered by forest. Africa average: ~22%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
GDP Growth
7.61%
Annual % change in national economic output. Global average: ~3%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
GDP per Capita
1 133.88USD
GDP per person in current USD. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~$1,700.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Gini Index
31.1
Income inequality index 0–100. Higher = more unequal. Africa average: ~43.
World Bank (2021)Updated today
Under-5 Mortality
52per 1k
WHO GHO (2024)Data aging
Current Health Expenditure
2.8% GDP
Government + private health spending as % of GDP. Global average: ~10%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
Internally Displaced Persons
2 378 000people
People displaced within their own country. Africa hosts the most IDPs globally. Source: UNHCR.
UNHCR (2024)Updated today
Inflation (CPI)
21.04%
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Internet Access
21.94%
Share of population using the internet. Africa average: ~43%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Life Expectancy
69.75years
Average years a newborn is expected to live. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~62 years.
WHO GHO (2021)Updated today
Adult Literacy Rate
60.46%
Share of adults (15+) who can read and write. Africa average: ~70%.
World Bank (2022)Updated today
Maternal Mortality
194.94per 100k
Deaths per 100,000 live births. Global average: 223; sub-Saharan Africa: ~450.
WHO GHO (2023)Updated today
Mobile Subscriptions
65.08per 100
SIM cards per 100 people (can exceed 100 due to multiple SIMs). Africa average: ~85.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Under-5 Mortality
44.5per 1k
Deaths per 1,000 live births before age 5. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~65.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
NCD Premature Mortality (30–70)
16.8%
WHO GHO (2021)Updated today
Obesity Prevalence
2.82%
WHO GHO (2022)Updated today
Medical Doctors
1.56per 10k
Medical doctors per 10,000 people. Sub-Saharan Africa average: ~2.2.
WHO GHO (2024)Updated today
Political Stability Index
-1.97/100
World Governance Indicators score 0–100. Higher = more stable. Normalized from -2.5/+2.5 scale.
World Bank WGI (2023)Updated today
Population
132 059 767
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Poverty Headcount ($2.15/day)
38.6%
Share of population living on less than $2.15/day. Global extreme poverty threshold.
World Bank (2021)Updated today
Primary Completion Rate
54.44%
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Protected Areas
17% total
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Renewable Electricity Output
95.43%
% of electricity from renewable sources (hydro, solar, wind, geothermal).
World Bank (2020)Updated today
Safe Sanitation Access
8.05%
Share using safely managed sanitation. Global average: ~57%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Population in Slums
64.31% urban
World Bank (2022)Updated today
Undernourishment Prevalence
19.7%
Share of population with insufficient food intake. Africa average: ~20%.
World Bank (2023)Updated today
Unemployment Rate
3.32%
World Bank (2025)Updated today
Urban Population Share
23.62%
Share of population living in urban areas. Africa average: ~44%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Safe Drinking Water Access
13.55%
Share using safely managed drinking water. Global average: ~74%.
World Bank (2024)Updated today
Women in Parliament
41.91%
Share of parliamentary seats held by women. Global average: ~27%.