In ethnically diverse Ethiopia, Catholicism takes its cue from Orthodox Christianity, which dominates the national historical narrative. The Catholic Church here encompasses both the Latin rite liturgy, which is more contemporary and spoken in the vernacular, and the Ethiopian rite, a much longer Mass spoken in the antiquated Ge’ez language and sung in a style of chanting called zema, which dates to the sixth century. Ethiopians are especially endeared to angels — Gabriel, Michael and Raphael — whom they see as messengers between God and man and as protectors from evil. 74% of Ethiopians believe in angels, and 62% in miracles.
Nearly 80% of all Ethiopians, and 77% of Christians, report that religion is very important in their lives. While this number is low for Africa, it is much higher than in all of Latin America, Europe and North America. Read more...
National Demographics
Religious Affiliation
Chart source: Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, 2010
Total Population
107,534,882 1
Urban
20.80% 1
Rural
79.20% 1
Immigrants as % of Population
1.1% 2
Homicides
7.60 per 100,000 people (global median 6.9) 3
Level of Public Corruption
108 (1=lowest, 176=highest corruption) 4
Gender Equality in the Economy, Health, Education and Politics
109 (1=most equal, 144=least equal) 7
Fertility Rate
4.28 births per adult woman 5
Children Who Do Not Live to Age 5
5.90% 5
Life Expectancy at Birth
65 years 5
Adult Literacy Rate
39.00% 5
Internet Users
3% 5
Gross National Income per Capita
US$550 5
Population Living Below US$1.90 per Day
33.5% 5
Catholic Demographics
These statistics are derived from the Vatican's official publication, Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2020 (Vatican City: Librera Editrice Vaticana, 2022). The numbers may differ from data reported by other sources on this site.
Baptized Catholics
854,000
Baptized Catholics as % of Total Population
0.85
Baptisms per Year (Under age 7)
22,691
Baptisms per Year (Over age 7)
12,179
First Communions per Year
11,213
Confirmations per Year
10,550
Students Enrolled in Catholic Primary Schools
99,951
Students Enrolled in Catholic Secondary Schools
30,381
Students Enrolled in Catholic Higher Education
5,070
Church Marriages per Year
2,849
Church Marriages in Which Both Spouses are Catholics
1 United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2018). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision, Online Edition.
2 United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 revision.
3 United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Homicide Statistics 2015.
4 Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2016.