Updated
Overview
Ethiopia has 6.9 times the population of Somalia: 135.47 million people against 19.65 million (2025).
Ethiopia's economy is 9.7 times the size of Somalia's, at $126.36B versus $13.00B.
Per person, Ethiopia is the wealthier of the two: $933 against $661 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Ethiopia | Somalia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $126.36B | $13.00B | 2025 | $126.77B / $12.11B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $933 | $661 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 9.8% | 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 13.2% | Lower: 3.7% | 2025 | 21.0% / 6.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.3% | 18.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $96 | — | 2021 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 135.47 million | 19.65 million | 2025 | 121.37 million / 20.32 million |
| Population growth | 2.6% | 3.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 19.1 yrs | 15.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.81 | 5.91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 67.6 yrs | 59.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 24% | 55% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 22% | Higher: 28% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,104,300 km² | 637,657 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 122.7/km² | 30.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 18 Mt | Lower: 1.32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.1 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $921.67M | $201.85M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 138,000 | 14,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Ethiopia is growing much faster: 9.8% annual GDP growth versus 3.0%.
Ethiopia runs the hotter price environment: 13.2% inflation versus 3.7%.
People and society
Somalia is the younger society: median age 15.6 versus 19.1 years.
Life expectancy is 8.6 years longer in Ethiopia (67.6 vs 59.0).
Somalia is considerably more urbanized: 55% of people live in cities, against 24%.
Geography
By land area, Ethiopia is 73% larger than Somalia: 1,104,300 km² versus 637,657 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Ethiopia is far more densely settled: 123 people per km² against 31.
Military
Ethiopia spends 4.6 times as much on defence as Somalia: $921.67M versus $201.85M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Somalia carries the heavier military burden: 1.6% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Ethiopia fields the larger armed forces: 138,000 personnel against 14,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Ethiopia bigger than Somalia?
- Ethiopia is larger by land area. Ethiopia covers 1,104,300 km² while Somalia covers 637,657 km², so Ethiopia is 73% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Ethiopia or Somalia?
- Ethiopia has the larger population: 135.47 million versus 19.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Ethiopia richer than Somalia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ethiopia is richer: $933 against $661. Total GDP tells the same story: $126.36B for Ethiopia versus $13.00B for Somalia.
- Who spends more on their military, Ethiopia or Somalia?
- Ethiopia spends more: $921.67M versus $201.85M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).