Addis Ababa - The Capital of Ethiopia

Population
3,352,000
Language
Amharic
Continent
Africa
Since
1886
Eco Ranking
147/195

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

About Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia, who established it as his imperial seat after finding the climate of the highland site favorable. His consort, Empress Taytu Betul, named the city, the name means 'New Flower' in Amharic. The city became the capital of the Ethiopian Empire and, following the 1936-1941 Italian occupation, was restored as the seat of Haile Selassie's government. A Marxist military junta called the Derg seized power in 1974, deposing Selassie and ruling until 1991. After the fall of the Derg, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) established a federal government in Addis Ababa, which today houses the Parliament, the Federal Supreme Court, and the Office of the Prime Minister. The city holds exceptional geopolitical importance as the headquarters of the African Union since the organization's founding in 2002 (succeeding the Organisation of African Unity, also based here since 1963). Addis Ababa is the only African city that hosts a permanent seat of a continental intergovernmental organization.

About Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a federal parliamentary republic composed of ten regional states and two chartered cities, including Addis Ababa. The country operates under a 1995 constitution that grants regional states significant autonomy, including a theoretical right of secession. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa and the only mainland African state never fully colonized by a European power. The African Union's continental headquarters are located in Addis Ababa, reinforcing the city's diplomatic significance beyond Ethiopia's borders.

View Addis Ababa on the map

View Addis Ababa - The Capital of Ethiopia on the map

Flight time from Addis Ababa to other capitals

CityDistance (km)Flight Time
Abu Dhabi24002h 49m
Rome45005h 18m
Cape Town52006h 7m
Paris56006h 35m
London59006h 56m
Singapore72008h 28m
Tokyo1040012h 14m
Buenos Aires1120013h 11m
Washington, D.C.1150013h 32m
Canberra1240014h 35m

Capitals with similar population to Addis Ababa

CityPopulation
Abuja3,464,000
Addis Ababa3,352,000
Santo Domingo3,339,410
Pyongyang3,255,288
Asunción3,222,000
Athens3,090,508
Antananarivo3,058,800

Capitals with similar eco ranking to Addis Ababa

CityEco Rank
Accra144
Conakry145
Port-au-Prince146
Addis Ababa147
São Tomé148
N'Djamena149
Kampala150

Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When was Addis Ababa founded and by whom?

    Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. He established his imperial court on the site after the area's highland climate proved favorable. The city's name, meaning 'New Flower' in Amharic, was given by Empress Taytu Betul.

  • Why is the African Union headquartered in Addis Ababa?

    The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was founded in Addis Ababa in 1963, largely due to Emperor Haile Selassie's diplomatic influence and Ethiopia's status as a symbol of African independence. When the OAU was replaced by the African Union in 2002, the headquarters remained in Addis Ababa.

  • Was Addis Ababa ever occupied by a foreign power?

    Yes. Fascist Italy occupied Addis Ababa from 1936 to 1941 after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. During the occupation, the Italians attempted to use it as the capital of Italian East Africa. Emperor Haile Selassie returned from exile and restored Ethiopian sovereignty in 1941 with Allied support.

  • Is Addis Ababa the largest city in Ethiopia?

    Yes. Addis Ababa is by far the largest city in Ethiopia, home to an estimated 3.5 million people in the city proper and significantly more in the metropolitan area. It functions as a chartered city with a status equivalent to a regional state under Ethiopia's federal structure.

  • What happened politically in Addis Ababa after Emperor Haile Selassie?

    In 1974, the Derg, a Marxist military council, overthrew and eventually killed Haile Selassie, making Addis Ababa the capital of a socialist state. The Derg ruled until 1991, when it was ousted by the EPRDF coalition. A new federal constitution was adopted in 1995.

Sights and landmarks

The National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa displays the famous fossil Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis discovered in the Afar region in 1974. The Holy Trinity Cathedral houses the tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie and his consort Empress Menen. The Mercato, reputedly the largest open-air market in Africa, covers several square kilometres. On Entoto Hill to the north of the city stand Maryam Church and the old palace of Menelik II, with views over the capital. The Ethnological Museum on the campus of Addis Ababa University documents the ethnic diversity of Ethiopia.

Climate and best time to visit

Addis Ababa sits at approximately 2,355 metres above sea level and has a subtropical highland climate with remarkably mild temperatures for its latitude. Average temperatures hover between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius year-round, with nights that can feel cool in December and January. The rainy season, locally called kiremt, runs from June to September and delivers most of the annual rainfall of around 1,200 mm. The best time to visit Addis Ababa is from October to February, the dry season with clear skies and pleasant temperatures.

Regional significance

Addis Ababa holds an exceptional position on the African continent as the capital of the only country never successfully colonised — aside from the brief Italian occupation of 1936 to 1941. The city houses the headquarters of the African Union, founded in 2002 as the successor to the OAU which was itself established in Addis Ababa in 1963, as well as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. This makes Addis Ababa the diplomatic capital of Africa, with over 120 foreign embassies and numerous multilateral organisations.

Culture and customs

Addis Ababa is a centre of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian tradition, with numerous churches and monasteries throughout the city. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has its own calendar and celebrates Genna (Christmas) on 7 January and Timkat (Epiphany) on 19 January with large processions through the city. The traditional dish injera, a sourdough flatbread made from teff flour, forms the basis of almost every meal, served with wats (stews). The coffee ceremony remains a central social ritual; coffee is roasted on the spot, ground and served in three rounds. Amharic is the working language of the federal government.
Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia

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