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This is a list of ethnic groups in Ethiopia that are officially recognized by the government. It is a list taken from the 2007 Ethiopian National Census: [1] [2] Population size and percentage of Ethiopia's total population according to the 1994 and 2007 censuses follows each entry.
Ethiopia's population is highly diverse, containing over 80 different ethnic groups. Most people in Ethiopia speak Afro-Asiatic languages, mainly of the Cushitic and Semitic branches. The former includes the Oromo and Somali, and the latter includes the Amhara and Tigray. Together these four groups make up three-quarters of the population.
The country also has Omotic ethnic groups who speak Afro-Asiatic languages of the Omotic branch. They inhabit the southern regions of the country, particularly the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region. Among these are the Welayta and Gamo.
Groups from the hypothetical Nilo-Saharan group, especially Nilotic ethnic groups also inhabit the southwestern regions of the country, particularly in the Gambela Region. Among these are the Nuer and Anuak who are also found in South Sudan which borders the Gambela Region. However, according to Glottolog, many of those comprise small language families or isolates, such as Surmic languages Kwegu, Me'en, and Suri, and the isolate Bertan.
| Ethnic group | Linguistic grouping | Census 1994 [3] | Census 2007 [4] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | ||
| Aari | Omotic | 155,002 | 0.29 | 290,453 | 0.39 |
| Afar | Cushitic | 979,367 | 1.84 | 1,276,374 | 1.73 |
| Agaw-Awi | Cushitic | 397,491 | 0.75 | 631,565 | 0.85 |
| Silt'e | Semitic | 939,457 | 1,135,306 | 1.27 | |
| Agaw-Hamyra | Cushitic | 158,231 | 0.30 | 267,851 | 0.36 |
| Alaba | Cushitic | 125,900 | 0.24 | 233,299 | 0.32 |
| Amhara | Semitic | 16,007,933 | 30.13 | 19,870,651 | 26.89 |
| Anuak | Nilotic | 45,665 | 0.09 | 85,909 | 0.12 |
| Arbore | Afro-Asiatic | 6,559 | 0.01 | 6,840 | 0.01 |
| Argobba | Afro-Asiatic | 62,831 | 0.12 | 140,134 | 0.19 |
| Bacha (Kwego) | Nilo-Saharan | 2,632 | < 0.01 | ||
| Basketo | Afro-Asiatic | 51,097 | 0.10 | 78,284 | 0.11 |
| Bench | Omotic | 173,123 | 0.33 | 353,526 | 0.48 |
| Berta | Nilo-Saharan | 183,259 | 0.25 | ||
| Bodi | Nilo-Saharan | 4,686 | 0.01 | 6,994 | 0.01 |
| Brayle | ???? | 5,002 | 0.01 | ||
| Burji | Afro-Asiatic | 46,565 | 0.09 | 71,871 | 0.10 |
| Bena | Niger-Congo | 27,022 | 0.04 | ||
| Beta Israel | Semitic | 2,321 | <0.01 | ||
| Chara | Afro-Asiatic | 6,984 | 0.01 | 13,210 | 0.02 |
| Daasanach | Afro-Asiatic | 32,099 | 0.06 | 48,067 | 0.07 |
| Dawro | Omotic | 331,483 | 0.62 | 543,148 | 0.74 |
| Debase/ Gawwada | Afro-Asiatic | 33,971 | 0.06 | 68,600 | 0.09 |
| Dirashe | Afro-Asiatic | 30,081 | 0.04 | ||
| Dime | Afro-Asiatic | 6,197 | 0.01 | 891 | <0.01 |
| Dizi | Afro-Asiatic | 21,894 | 0.04 | 36,380 | 0.05 |
| Donga | Nilo-Saharan | 35,166 | 0.05 | ||
| Fedashe | ???? | 7,323 | 0.01 | 3,448 | < 0.01 |
| Gamo | Omotic | 719,847 | 1.35 | 1,107,163 | 1.50 |
| Gebato | ???? | 75 | <0.01 | 1,502 | < 0.01 |
| Gedeo | Cushitic | 639,905 | 1.20 | 986,977 | 1.34 |
| Gedicho | ???? | 5,483 | 0.01 | ||
| Gidole | Afro-Asiatic | 54,354 | 0.10 | 41,100 | 0.06 |
| Goffa | Omotic | 241,530 | 0.45 | 363,009 | 0.49 |
| Gumuz | Nilo-Saharan | 121,487 | 0.23 | 159,418 | 0.22 |
| Gurage | Semitic | 4,290,274 | 4.31 | 1,867,377 | 2.53 |
| Hadiya | Cushitic | 927,933 | 1.75 | 1,284,373 | 1.74 |
| Hamar | Afro-Asiatic | 42,466 | 0.08 | 46,532 | 0.06 |
| Harari | Semitic | 21,757 | 0.04 | 31,869 | 0.04 |
| Irob | Afro-Asiatic | 33,372 | 0.05 | ||
| Kafficho | Omotic | 599,188 | 1.13 | 870,213 | 1.18 |
| Kambaata | Cushitic | 499,825 | 0.94 | 630,236 | 0.85 |
| kebena | Afro-Asiatic [5] | 35,072 | 0.07 | 52,712 | 0.07 |
| Konta | Afro-Asiatic | 83,607 | 0.11 | ||
| Komo | Nilo-Saharan | 1,526 | <0.01 | 7,795 | 0.01 |
| Konso | Cushitic | 153,419 | 0.29 | 250,430 | 0.34 |
| Koore | Afro-Asiatic | 107,595 | 0.20 | 156,983 | 0.21 |
| Kontoma | Afro-Asiatic | 0.4 | 48,543 | 0.05 | |
| Kunama | Nilo-Saharan | 2,007 | <0.01 | 4,860 | 0.01 |
| Karo | Afro-Asiatic | 1,464 | < 0.01 | ||
| Kusumie | ???? | 7,470 | 0.01 | ||
| Kwegu | Nilo-Saharan | 4,407 | 0.01 | ||
| Male | Afro-Asiatic | 46,458 | 0.09 | 98,114 | 0.13 |
| Mao | Afro-Asiatic | 16,236 | 0.03 | 43,535 | 0.06 |
| Mareqo | Afro-Asiatic [6] | 38,096 | 0.07 | 64,381 | 0.09 |
| Mashola | Afro-Asiatic | 10,458 | 0.01 | ||
| Mere people | ???? | 14,298 | 0.02 | ||
| Me'en | Nilo-Saharan | 52,815 | 0.10 | 151,489 | 0.20 |
| Messengo | ???? | 15,341 | 0.03 | 10,964 | 0.01 |
| Majangir | Nilo-Saharan | 21,959 | 0.03 | ||
| Mossiye | Afro-Asiatic | 9,207 | 0.02 | 19,698 | 0.03 |
| Murle | Nilo-Saharan | 1,469 | < 0.01 | ||
| Mursi | Nilo-Saharan | 3,258 | 0.01 | 7,500 | 0.01 |
| Nao | Afro-Asiatic | 4,005 | 0.01 | 9,829 | 0.01 |
| Nuer | Nilotic | 64,534 | 0.12 | 147,672 | 0.20 |
| Nyangatom | Nilotic | 14,201 | 0.03 | 25,252 | 0.03 |
| Oromo | Cushitic | 17,080,318 | 31.15 | 24,489,024 | 33.49 |
| Oyda | Afro-Asiatic | 14,075 | 0.03 | 45,149 | 0.06 |
| Qechem | ???? | 2,740 | 0.01 | 2,585 | < 0.01 |
| Qewama | ???? | 141 | <0.01 | 298 | < 0.01 |
| She | Afro-Asiatic | 13,290 | 0.03 | 320 | < 0.01 |
| Shekecho | Afro-Asiatic | 53,897 | 0.10 | 77,678 | 0.11 |
| Sheko | Afro-Asiatic | 23,785 | 0.04 | 37,573 | 0.05 |
| Shinasha | Afro-Asiatic | 32,698 | 0.06 | 52,637 | 0.07 |
| Shita/Upo | Nilo-Saharan | 307 | <0.01 | 1,602 | < 0.01 |
| Sidama | Cushitic | 1,842,314 | 3.47 | 2,966,474 | 4.01 |
| Somali | Cushitic | 4,185,266 | 6.5 | 6,581,794 | 8.21 |
| Surma | Nilo-Saharan | 19,632 | 0.04 | 27,886 | 0.04 |
| Tigrayans | Semitic | 3,284,568 | 6.18 | 4,483,892 | 6.07 |
| Tembaro | Afro-Asiatic | 86,510 | 0.16 | 480,573 | 0.13 |
| Tsamai | Afro-Asiatic | 9,702 | 0.02 | 20,046 | 0.03 |
| Welayta | Omotic | 1,269,216 | 2.39 | 1,707,079 | 2.31 |
| Werji | Afro-Asiatic | 20,536 | 0.04 | 13,232 | 0.02 |
| Yem | Afro-Asiatic | 165,184 | 0.31 | 160,447 | 0.22 |
| Zeyese | Afro-Asiatic | 10,842 | 0.02 | 17,884 | 0.02 |
| Zelmam | Nilo-Saharan | 2,704 | < 0.01 | ||
| Other/unknown | 155,972 | 0.29 | 178,799 | 0.24 | |
| Somali | 20,227 | 0.03 | |||
| Sudanese | 2,035 | <0.01 | 10,333 | 0.01 | |
| Eritrean | 61,857 | 0.12 | 9,736 | 0.01 | |
| Kenyan | 134 | <0.01 | 77 | <0.01 | |
| Djiboutian | 367 | <0.01 | 733 | <0.01 | |
| Other foreigners | 15,550 | 0.02 | |||
| Total | 53,132,276 | 73,750,932 | |||
The World Factbook estimates the ethnic groups of Ethiopia in 2022 as follows [7]
| Ethnic Group | % |
|---|---|
| Oromo | 35.8 |
| Amhara | 24.1 |
| Somali | 7.2 |
| Tigray | 5.7 |
| Sidama | 4.1 |
| Guragie | 2.6 |
| Welaita | 2.3 |
| Afar | 2.2 |
| Silte | 1.3 |
| Kefficho | 1.2 |
| other | 13.5 |
Sources disagree as to the current population of Eritrea, with some proposing numbers as low as 3.6 million and others as high as 6.7 million. Eritrea has never conducted an official government census.
The demographics of Ethiopia encompass the demographic features of inhabitants in Ethiopia, including ethnicity, languages, population density, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The number of languages natively spoken in Africa is variously estimated at between 1,250 and 2,100, and by some counts at over 3,000. Nigeria alone has over 500 languages, one of the greatest concentrations of linguistic diversity in the world. The languages of Africa belong to many distinct language families, among which the largest are:
Oromia is a regional state in Ethiopia and the homeland of the Oromo people. Under Article 49 of Ethiopian Constitution, the capital of Oromia is Addis Ababa, also called Finfinne. The provision of the article maintains special interest of Oromia by utilizing social services and natural resources of Addis Ababa.
The Gambela Region (also spelled Gambella (Catching the male Leopard in Anywaa language); Amharic: ጋምቤላ), officially the Gambela Peoples' Region, is a regional state in western Ethiopia, bordering South Sudan. Previously known as Region 12, its capital is Gambela located in Anywaa zone. The Region is situated between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, with its western part including the Openo River. Covering an area of approximately 29,783 square kilometers, Gambela is one of Ethiopia's smaller regions and one of its least populous, with 525,000 inhabitants. It is home to a diverse population, including the Anuak the indigenous, Nuer, and other indigenous groups called Majang Komo and Opo. The region's economy is largely based on agriculture, with significant contributions from fishing and cross-border trade. The landscape is characterized by lowland plains, wetlands, and a tropical climate, making it distinct from the highland areas that dominate much of Ethiopia.
The languages of Ethiopia include the official languages of Ethiopia, its national and regional languages, and a large number of minority languages, as well as foreign languages.
Kambaata is a Cushitic ethnic group in south-central Ethiopia, specifically in Kambaata Zone in Central Ethiopia Regional State. It is also known as Cambat, Kambata, Cambatta, Kambatta or Khambat by various historians and early explorers. The Kambaata people and Kambaatissa belongs to the East Highland Cushitic language family. Kambaata was first mentioned in the chronicles of Emperor Yeshaq I. Kambaata was "one of the southern kingdoms with well-established monarchical system...instituted in 16th century and operated without interruption until it ended at the last decade of ninetieth century" when it was incorporated by Emperor Menelik II. During this first period incorporation, Kambaata province was largely Christianized.
The Daasanach are an ethnic group inhabiting parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan. Their main homeland is in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, adjacent to Lake Turkana. According to the 2007 national census, they number 48,067 people, of whom 1,481 are urban dwellers.
Ethiopians are the native inhabitants of Ethiopia, as well as the global diaspora of Ethiopia. Ethiopians constitute several component ethnic groups, many of which are closely related to ethnic groups in neighboring Eritrea and other parts of the Horn of Africa.
The Welayta, or Wolaitans are an ethnic group located in Southwestern Ethiopia. According to the most recent estimate (2017), the people of Wolayta numbered 5.83 million in Welayta Zone. The language of the Wolayta people, similarly called Wolaytta, belongs to the Omotic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Despite their small population, Wolayta people have widely influenced national music, dance, and cuisine in Ethiopia.
Gog is a woreda in Gambela Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Gog is bordered on the south by Dimma, on the southwest by the Akobo River which separates it from South Sudan, on the west by Jor, and on the north by Abobo. The major town in Gog is Fugnido.
Anfillo is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Kelem Welega Zone, Anfillo is bordered on the southwest by the Gambela Region, on the north by Jimma Gidami, on the northeast by Yemalogi Welele, and on the east by Sayo. The major town in Anfillo is Mugi.
Sherka is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Research by Ulrich Braukämper uncovered a local tradition that traced the origins of this woreda's name to an ancient Ethiopian province, Sharkha, which vanished as a political unit in the 16th century. Part of the Arsi Zone, Sirkaa is bordered on the south by the Shebelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Bekoji, on the west by Digeluna Tijo, on the north by Tena, and on the east by Robe. Gobesa is the administrative center; other towns include Gaadoo Gunaa.
The Arab world consists of the 22 members of the Arab League. As of 2023, the combined population of all the Arab states was around 473 million people.
Hozo is an Afroasiatic language spoken mostly in the Kondala woreda of Mirab Welega Zone by peoples generically known as "Mao". There are smaller groups of Hozo speakers in Mana Sibu woreda. The term Hozo is usually understood by the Mao to refer to a clan. Hozo speakers prefer to call themselves Amo. Hozo and Seze are sometimes called Begi Mao. Hozo is spoken by roughly 3,000 people in Ethiopia. Hozo is also a clan in the Begi area. The Hozo language is also known as Begi-Mao and Mao of Begi. Its classification is Afro-Asiatic, Omotic, and Mao. The word Mao is Omotic and means ‘man; people’, occurring as [ma:ɪ] in Seze and as [mɔ:] in Hozo. Mao is frequently used as an ethnic term. There is a kind of Mao identity across language differences in Ethiopia. While it is generally accepted today that Omotic is one of the primary branches of the Afro-Asiatic family, the position of the four languages Hozo, Seze, Ganza and Northern Mao is still being discussed. The Mao languages are the least documented within Omotic, and Omotic itself is the least documented of the Afroasiatic groups.
The Siltʼe people are an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia. They inhabit the Siltʼe Zone which is part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. Silt'e people speak the Siltʼe language, a Semitic language, which is closely related to the Harari language.
The Mezhenger Zone or Majang Zone is a zone in Gambela Region of Ethiopia. It is named for one of the three largest indigenous groups in Gambela, the Majangir. This zone is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the west by the Anuak Zone, and on the north by the Oromia Region. Towns in this Zone include Meti.
Anyuak Zone or Anywaa Zone is a zone in Gambela Region of Ethiopia. It was created from former Administrative Zone 1 and Administrative Zone 2 of Gambela. This zone is bordered on the southwest by South Sudan, on the southeast by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the east by Majang Zone, on the northeast by the Oromia Region, and on the northwest by South Sudan and Nuer Zone. Towns in this zone include Gambela, Abwobo and Pinyudo.
Bench people, are an Omotic-speaking people indigenous to southwestern Ethiopia. According to the 2007 census there are 353,526 Bench people in Ethiopia, making up 0.48% of the country's total population Bench are among the major ethnic groups inhabiting the Bench Maji Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region (SNNPR), and the majority live in the former district of Bench, which was divided into Debub Bench, Semien Bench, and She Bench districts. Bench language is the ancestral language of Bench people and belongs to the Northern Omotic languages.
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Multi-ethnic civic nationalism | |||
