World Factbook
Ethiopia
YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a light blue disk centered on the three bands; on the disk is a yellow pentagram with single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points meaning: green stands for hope and the land's fertility, yellow for justice and harmony, and red for sacrifice and heroism; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the Ethiopian people's unity and equality history: the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996
note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and newly independent African countries often adopted the Ethiopian flag's colors, which were later known as the Pan-African movement's colors
Capital
name
Addis Ababa
etymology
the name in Amharic means "new flower;" Empress TAITU gave the name to the new capital city in 1887
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
9 02 N, 38 42 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
4 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995
amendment process
proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils
Country name
former
Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
etymology
the country name derives from the ancient Greek word used to describe the inhabitants, aithiops , meaning "burnt appearance"
abbreviation
FDRE
local long form
YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form
Ityop'iya
conventional long form
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form
Ethiopia
Independence
oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, at least 2,000 years; may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which appeared in the first century B.C.
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
note
note: the House of Federation has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues
highest court(s)
Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges)
subordinate courts
federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts
judge selection and term of office
president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member body chaired by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
chief of state
President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024)
election results
2021: SAHLE-WORK Zewde reelected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021)
head of government
Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018)
most recent election date
21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections
National holiday
Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
National color(s)
green, yellow, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
12 (10 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Aksum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c); Gedeo Cultural Landscape (c); Bale Mountains National Park (n); Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia (c)
Political parties
Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice and Democracy or EZEMA Gedeo People's Democratic Party Independent Kucha People Democratic Party National Movement of Amhara or NAMA Prosperity Party or PP
Legislative branch
note
note: the House of Federation is responsible for interpreting the constitution and federal-regional issues, and the House of People's Representatives is responsible for passing legislation
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)
history
adopted 1992
lyrics/music
DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
National symbol(s)
Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by government)
National coat of arms
adopted in 1996, the coat of arms features the national symbol, a pentagram; the blue circle symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the Ethiopian people
Administrative divisions
12 ethnically based regional states ( kililoch , singular - kilil ) and 2 chartered cities* ( astedader akabibiwach , singular - astedader akabibi ); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela), Hareri Hizb (Harari), Oromia, Sidama, Sumale, Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples), Southern Ethiopia Peoples
Legislative branch - lower chamber
note
note: only 470 of the 547 seats in the House of People's Representatives were filled during the 2021 elections due to security issues in the Tigray State and other areas
chamber name
House of Peoples' Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
547 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
6/21/2021 to 9/30/2021
expected date of next election
June 2026
percentage of women in chamber
41.9%
parties elected and seats per party
Prosperity Party (448); Other (22)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
House of the Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
153 (all indirectly elected)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/4/2021
expected date of next election
October 2026
percentage of women in chamber
29.7%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 587-0195
chancery
3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 364-1200
chief of mission
Ambassador BINALF Andualem Ashenef (since 25 February 2025)
consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN)
email address and website
ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org https://ethiopianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[251] 111-24-24-01
embassy
Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone
[251] 111-30-60-00
mailing address
2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20521-2030
chief of mission
Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023)
email address and website
AddisACS@state.gov https://et.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, BRICS, COMESA, EITI, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (accession candidate)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt