The first census in Ethiopia, carried out in May 1984, estimated the total population at 42.8 million. The result surprised many people because the previous estimate for 1984 had been given as 34.6 million. By 1994, the Ethiopian population is estimated to have reached 54.9 million and this makes Ethiopia the third most populous country in Africa.

During the past 10 years the population grew by about 2.95 per cent per annum and the total population is expected to reach 66.7 million by the year 2000.

A continuing high fertility rate and slowly declining mortality rate are the main factors responsible for the rapid growth of population. The crude birth is about 47.3 per 1000 of the population while the total fertility rate is estimated at 7.5 per woman. The crude death rate is around 23.2 per 1000. Mortality appears to have declined slightly between the 1950 and the mid 1970s and increased slightly in the mid 1980s. Life expectancy at birth is about 46 years (World Bank, 1990).

The high rate of population growth has affected the age distribution of Ethiopian population. The percentage of persons aged 14 years and younger was 48.9 per cent in 1993.

An overwhelming majority (85.5%) of the population resides in rural area. The highest concentration of people (around 80% of the total population)is found in the highlands where the climate is favorable to the traditional method of cultivation. The highlands are also relatively free from vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria. Of the 322 towns (some with less than 1000 inhabitants) which have been accorded urban status by the Ministry of Work and Urban Development, only 9 towns (Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Nazareth, Dessie, Mekele, Jimma, Baher Dar, Gonder and Harrar) had a population of over 100,000 in 1992.

The population density for the country is about 42.5 persons per square kilo meter. The population density varies from 4.0 persons per sq.km in Borena (a district in the lowlands) to 367.2 persons in Wolayta .