MigrantoImmigrants in Ethiopia
1.1M foreigners live in Ethiopia — 1% of the country's population
Immigrants in Ethiopia by country
The 3 largest groups make up 89% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| South Sudan | 443743 |
| Somalia | 389246 |
| Eritrea | 176860 |
| Sudan | 88958 |
| China | 26824 |
| Kenya | 5564 |
| Yemen | 2503 |
| Djibouti | 1364 |
| DR Congo | 1041 |
| Syria | 679 |
| Burundi | 130 |
| Uganda | 18 |
By region of origin
97% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Ethiopia in numbers
South Sudanese are the largest group by a wide margin
39% of all immigrants were born in South Sudan, while the next group accounts for just 34%.
38% of all emigrants from Djibouti live in Ethiopia
No other country has more people born in Djibouti.
The immigrant population has grown 36% since 2020
The number of foreigners living in Ethiopia rose from 832.9K to 1.1M in four years.
People born in South Sudan are the fastest-growing group
The number of people born in South Sudan living in Ethiopia has grown 58% since 2015, from 281.2K to 443.7K.
1 in 20 people born in Eritrea lives in Ethiopia
176.9K people born in Eritrea live in Ethiopia — 5% of the population of Eritrea.
Immigrant population in Ethiopia over time
Foreigners living in Ethiopia, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 869639 |
| 1995 | 471273 |
| 2000 | 297275 |
| 2005 | 156751 |
| 2010 | 206391 |
| 2015 | 784161 |
| 2020 | 832948 |
| 2024 | 1136930 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Ethiopia, by year
| Year | South Sudanese | Somalis | Eritreans | Sudanese | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 349048 | 395548 | 64266 | 59262 | 350 |
| 1995 | 64067 | 319976 | 49258 | 10273 | 104 |
| 2000 | 72662 | 177388 | 27869 | 12364 | 1762 |
| 2005 | 79562 | 37643 | 19447 | 13973 | 4400 |
| 2010 | 33673 | 86677 | 40794 | 5440 | 34059 |
| 2015 | 281162 | 263015 | 139524 | 38743 | 54628 |
| 2020 | 365470 | 204246 | 169990 | 44791 | 38672 |
| 2024 | 443743 | 389246 | 176860 | 88958 | 26824 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Ethiopia
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Ethiopia
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Ethiopia?
Around 1.1M immigrants live in Ethiopia — the world's #53 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Ethiopia are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 1% of the population of Ethiopia — that's 1.1M out of a total population of 132.1M.
Where do most immigrants in Ethiopia come from?
Most immigrants in Ethiopia come from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea — these three countries account for about 89% of all immigrants.
How many South Sudanese live in Ethiopia?
Around 443.7K South Sudanese live in Ethiopia — about 39% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Ethiopia growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Ethiopia has grown from 784.2K to 1.1M, about 45%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Ethiopia come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Ethiopia. Their children born in Ethiopia are not included.
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Living in Ethiopia
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