Net migration in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Net migration was 24,054 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Ethiopia, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Ethiopia is 24,054, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 20.0% on the previous year and down 61.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Ethiopia peaked at 859,737 in 1991 and was at its lowest, -903,529, in 1980.
That places Ethiopia 30th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,696 | — |
| 1961 | 6,938 | +309.1% |
| 1962 | 8,960 | +29.1% |
| 1963 | 9,418 | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 10,749 | +14.1% |
| 1965 | 16,348 | +52.1% |
| 1966 | 9,160 | -44.0% |
| 1967 | 14,437 | +57.6% |
| 1968 | 9,992 | -30.8% |
| 1969 | 7,258 | -27.4% |
| 1970 | 8,589 | +18.3% |
| 1971 | -14,510 | -268.9% |
| 1972 | -3,375 | -76.7% |
| 1973 | 347 | -110.3% |
| 1974 | -4,232 | -1319.6% |
| 1975 | -42,540 | +905.2% |
| 1976 | -36,125 | -15.1% |
| 1977 | -527,133 | +1359.2% |
| 1978 | -210,991 | -60.0% |
| 1979 | -711,455 | +237.2% |
| 1980 | -903,529 | +27.0% |
| 1981 | 628,135 | -169.5% |
| 1982 | 66,702 | -89.4% |
| 1983 | 68,022 | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 137,632 | +102.3% |
| 1985 | 157,476 | +14.4% |
| 1986 | 186,227 | +18.3% |
| 1987 | 251,387 | +35.0% |
| 1988 | 379,966 | +51.1% |
| 1989 | 242,614 | -36.1% |
| 1990 | 296,014 | +22.0% |
| 1991 | 859,737 | +190.4% |
| 1992 | 160,106 | -81.4% |
| 1993 | 141,545 | -11.6% |
| 1994 | 140,715 | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 91,727 | -34.8% |
| 1996 | 41,456 | -54.8% |
| 1997 | -9,119 | -122.0% |
| 1998 | -3,011 | -67.0% |
| 1999 | 29,142 | -1067.9% |
| 2000 | -49,891 | -271.2% |
| 2001 | -19,063 | -61.8% |
| 2002 | -12,925 | -32.2% |
| 2003 | -13,744 | +6.3% |
| 2004 | -25,430 | +85.0% |
| 2005 | -44,421 | +74.7% |
| 2006 | -30,512 | -31.3% |
| 2007 | -381 | -98.8% |
| 2008 | -20,780 | +5354.1% |
| 2009 | 16,315 | -178.5% |
| 2010 | 80,213 | +391.7% |
| 2011 | 116,793 | +45.6% |
| 2012 | 119,517 | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 80,955 | -32.3% |
| 2014 | 103,122 | +27.4% |
| 2015 | 62,785 | -39.1% |
| 2016 | 115,823 | +84.5% |
| 2017 | 71,766 | -38.0% |
| 2018 | 9,302 | -87.0% |
| 2019 | -10,807 | -216.2% |
| 2020 | 38,866 | -459.6% |
| 2021 | -1,377 | -103.5% |
| 2022 | -11,996 | +771.2% |
| 2023 | -11,996 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 30,069 | -350.7% |
| 2025 | 24,054 | -20.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 24,054 is above the median for low income countries, which is -7,704. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 24,054 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -5354.1% | -381 | -20,780 |
| 1977 | -1359.2% | -36,125 | -527,133 |
| 1974 | -1319.6% | 347 | -4,232 |
| 1999 | +1067.9% | -3,011 | 29,142 |
| 1975 | -905.2% | -4,232 | -42,540 |
| 2022 | -771.2% | -1,377 | -11,996 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9,496 | 1,696 | 16,348 | 10 |
| 1970s | -154,142 | -711,455 | 8,589 | 10 |
| 1980s | 121,463 | -903,529 | 628,135 | 10 |
| 1990s | 174,831 | -9,119 | 859,737 | 10 |
| 2000s | -20,083 | -49,891 | 16,315 | 10 |
| 2010s | 74,947 | -10,807 | 119,517 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,270 | -11,996 | 38,866 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More financial sector data for Ethiopia
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0759 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.0554 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0759 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Ethiopia?
- Net migration in Ethiopia was 24,054 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 859,737 in 1991.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was -903,529 in 1980.
- How does Ethiopia rank for net migration?
- Ethiopia ranks 30th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.