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| Regional states and chartered cities of Ethiopia | |
|---|---|
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| Category | Federation |
| Location | Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia |
| Created |
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| Number | 12 regions, 2 chartered cities (as of 2025) |
| Government |
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| Subdivisions | |
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Judiciary |
Ethiopia is afederation subdivided intoethno-linguistically based regional states (Amharic: plural: ክልሎችkililoch; singular: ክልልkilil;Oromo: singular:Naannoo; plural:Naannolee) andchartered cities (Amharic: plural: አስተዳደር አካባቢዎችastedader akababiwoch; singular: አስተዳደር አካባቢastedader akabibi). This system of administrative regions replaced theprovinces of Ethiopia in 1992.[1]
As of 2025, there are twelve regional states and two chartered cities (Addis Ababa andDire Dawa). Being based on ethnicity and language, rather than physical geography or history, the regions vary enormously in area and population; the most notable example is theHarari Region, which has a smaller area and population than either of the chartered cities.
The regions are each governed by a regional council whose members are directly elected to representworedas (districts). Each council has a president, who is elected by the council. Each region also has an executive committee, whose members are selected by the president from among the councilors and approved by the council. Each region has a sector bureau, which implements the council mandate and reports to the executive committee.[2]
Ethiopia was historically divided intoprovinces. The current system of administrative regions was introduced in 1992 by theTransitional Government of Ethiopia, and was formalised in 1995 when the currentConstitution of Ethiopia came into force.[1]
There were 13 regions initially, but five regions were merged to form the multi-ethnicSouthern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) later in 1992, following the first elections of regional councils on 21 June 1992.[3]Addis Ababa, the country's capital, andDire Dawa became chartered cities in 2004.
During the premiership ofAbiy Ahmed, several new regions have been created.
In November 2019, areferendum was held in theSidama Zone of the SNNPR, in which voters supported a proposal for Sidama Zone to become a region in its own right.[4] The Sidama Region was created in June 2020.[5]
TheSouth West Ethiopia Region was created on 23 November 2021 following asuccessful referendum earlier that year. The new region was split off from the SNNPR and consisted ofKeffa,Sheka,Bench Sheko,Dawro, andWest OmoZones, along withKonta special district.[6]
On 19 August 2023 theSouth Ethiopia Regional State was created following the2023 South Ethiopia Region referendum, with the remainder becoming theCentral Ethiopia Regional State, thus dissolving the SNNPR.[7]
| Flag | Name | Population (2024)[8] | Area (km2)[9] | Population density (per km²) | Capital | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Addis Ababa (city) | 5,709,000 | 527 | 10,823.71 | Addis Ababa | .svg) |
 | Afar Region | 3,350,000 | 72,051 | 46.48 | Semera |  |
 | Amhara Region | 23,216,000 | 154,709 | 209.78 | Bahir Dar |  |
 | Benishangul-Gumuz Region | 1,251,000 | 50,699 | 24.68 | Asosa |  |
 | Central Ethiopia Regional State | 10,561,000 | 15,098.97 | 699.59 | Hosaina |  |
 | Dire Dawa (city) | 551,000 | 1,559 | 353.32 | Dire Dawa | .svg) |
 | Gambela Region | 525,000 | 29,783 | 17.63 | Gambela |  |
 | Harari Region | 283,000 | 334 | 847.31 | Harar | .svg) |
 | Oromia Region | 40,884,000 | 284,538 | 143.72 | Addis Ababa |  |
 | Sidama Region | 5,301,868 | 12,000 | 441.82 | Hawassa |  |
.svg) | Somali Region | 6,657,000 | 279,525 | 23.82 | Jijiga |  |
 | South Ethiopia Regional State | 7,584,741 | 45,209.26 | 167.73 | Wolaita Sodo |  |
 | South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region | 4,197,164 | 39,400 | 106.53 | Bonga |  |
 | Tigray Region | 6,838,000 | 50,079 | 136.48 | Mek'ele |  |
