Ethiopia is a federation subdivided into ethno-linguistically based regional states (Amharic: plural: ክልሎች kililoch; singular: ክልል kilil; Oromo: singular: Naannoo; plural: Naannolee) and chartered cities (Amharic: plural: አስተዳደር አካባቢዎች astedader akababiwoch; singular: አስተዳደር አካባቢ astedader akabibi). This system of administrative regions replaced the provinces of Ethiopia in 1992.
There are twelve regional states and two chartered cities (Addis Ababa and Dire 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 the Harari Region, which has a smaller area and population than either of the chartered cities.
Governance The regions are each governed by a regional council whose members are directly elected to represent woredas (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.
History Ethiopia was historically divided into provinces. The current system of administrative regions was introduced in 1992 by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia, and was formalised in 1995 when the current Constitution of Ethiopia came into force.
There were 13 regions initially, but five regions were merged to form the multi-ethnic Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) later in 1992, following the first elections of regional councils on 21 June 1992. Addis Ababa, the country's capital, and Dire Dawa became chartered cities in 2004.
New regions
During the premiership of Abiy Ahmed, 3 new regions have been created.
In November 2019, a referendum was held in the Sidama Zone of the SNNPR, in which voters supported a proposal for Sidama Zone to become a region in its own right. The Sidama Region was created in June 2020.
The South West Ethiopia Region was created on 23 November 2021 following a successful referendum earlier that year. The new region was split off from the SNNPR and consisted of Keffa, Sheka, Bench Sheko, Dawro, and West Omo Zones, along with Konta special district.
On 19 August 2023 the South Ethiopia Regional State was created following the 2023 South Ethiopia Region referendum, with the remainder becoming the Central Ethiopia Regional State, thus dissolving the SNNPR.
List of regions and chartered cities + The twelve regions and two city administrations Flag Name Population (2024) Area (km2) Population density (per km²) Capital Map Addis Ababa (city) 5,709,000 527 10,823.71 Addis Ababa Afar Region3,350,000 72,051 46.48 Semera Amhara Region 35,216,000 154,709 209.78 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 Gambela Region 525,000 29,783 17.63 Gambela Harari Region 283,000 334 847.31 Harar Oromia Region 37,884,000 284,538 143.72 Addis Ababa Sidama Region 5,301,868 12,000 441.82 Hawassa 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
See also List of governors of the regions of Ethiopia Flags of the regions of Ethiopia List of Ethiopian regions by Human Development Index ISO 3166-2:ET Subdivisions of Ethiopia List of Ethiopian regional states by population
Notes
References
External links
States of Ethiopia at Statoids