Rural population density in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Rural population density was 482.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
482.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
14th
of 53 countries
All-time high
610.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 2002
All-time low
192.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land
in 1962
Years of data
51
1961–2011
Rural population density in Ethiopia, 1961–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates. Measured in rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Analysis
In 2011, rural population density in Ethiopia stood at 482.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population density in Ethiopia peaked at 610.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2002 and was at its lowest, 192.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land, in 1962.
That places Ethiopia 14th out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Rural population density in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | rural population per sq. km of arable land | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 195.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | — |
| 1962 | 192.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 193.51 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 197.91 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 196.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 199.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 202.89 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 205.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 206.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 211.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 212.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 214.65 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 220.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 225.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 229.55 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 232.73 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 234.59 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 236.25 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 238.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 244.14 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 253.36 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 264.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 276.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.6% |
| 1984 | 294.14 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +6.5% |
| 1985 | 306.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 322.94 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 341.43 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 358.04 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 375.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 392.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 409.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 422.08 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 463.63 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +9.8% |
| 1994 | 480.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 494.52 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 509.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 524.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 535.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 545.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 559.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 534.49 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 610.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +14.2% |
| 2003 | 548.53 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -10.1% |
| 2004 | 560.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 506.35 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -9.7% |
| 2006 | 494.48 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 486.62 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 473.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 497.98 rural population per sq. km of arable land | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 495.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 482.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 198.93 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 192.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 206.16 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 9 |
| 1970s | 225.56 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 211.27 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 238.23 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1980s | 303.71 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 244.14 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 375.75 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 1990s | 477.73 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 392.87 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 545.72 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2000s | 527.22 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 473.5 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 610.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 10 |
| 2010s | 488.9 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 482.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 495.05 rural population per sq. km of arable land | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 11 Kenya 575.09 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 12 Somalia 540.74 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 13 Lesotho 515.88 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 15 Eswatini 480.31 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 16 Liberia 475.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
- 17 Mauritania 460.32 rural population per sq. km of arable land compare
More environment data for Ethiopia
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.272 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.39 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate -69.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0002 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate -74.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0003 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, annual growth rate -71.2 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population density in Ethiopia?
- Rural population density in Ethiopia was 482.76 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.
- What is the highest rural population density recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 610.41 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 2002.
- What is the lowest rural population density recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 192.12 rural population per sq. km of arable land in 1962.
- How does Ethiopia rank for rural population density?
- Ethiopia ranks 14th out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is rural population density rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates, published as part of Rural population density (rural population per sq. km of arable land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population density is the rural population divided by the arable land area. Rural population is calculated as the difference between the total population and the urban population. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops (double-cropped areas are counted once), temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Land abandoned as a result of shifting cultivation is excluded.