Ethiopia is experiencing a surge in urbanization, with the number of recognized cities climbing to 2,543, up from fewer than 1,000 just a decade ago, according to new data from the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure.

Despite this expansion, only 275 of these urban centers have reached the level of city administration, while more than 2,000 remain at the municipal level. The uneven pace of development has created pressing challenges in governance, land management, and housing.

The ministry’s data highlights that cities now account for 27 percent of Ethiopia’s total population, living within just 1.6 square kilometers of the country’s landmass. Urban populations are growing at an annual rate of 5.4 percent, among the fastest in the world. While cities already contribute an estimated 55 percent to Ethiopia’s gross national product, experts believe their share could be even higher if development followed a more structured path.

Land management remains a major concern. Of the 6.6 million plots in Ethiopia’s cities, only 30 percent have been formally registered. At the same time, an estimated 40 to 70 percent of urban housing is considered substandard and built on illegally acquired land.

Urban development expert Ato Mibras Mohammed noted that the initial plan was to organize cities under a federal framework. However, regions later adopted their own criteria, leading to inconsistencies in classification and administration. He stressed that while urban population growth is generally a positive trend, the question of how the growth came about should also be considered.

Migration has been identified as one of the drivers of unplanned city expansion. Without improved planning, experts warn that the unchecked growth of municipalities could strain infrastructure, limit economic potential, and deepen social challenges.

Source: Sheger FM 102.1