Deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Deaths in armed conflicts was 17,882 deaths in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia, 1989–2025
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2025, deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia stood at 17,882 deaths.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 50.1% on the previous year and up 3,441.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia peaked at 173,108 deaths in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0 deaths, in 1997.
Ethiopia ranks 4th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 18,909 deaths | — |
| 1990 | 22,117 deaths | +17.0% |
| 1991 | 8,104 deaths | -63.4% |
| 1992 | 1,124 deaths | -86.1% |
| 1993 | 124 deaths | -89.0% |
| 1994 | 92 deaths | -25.8% |
| 1995 | 1,406 deaths | +1428.3% |
| 1996 | 183 deaths | -87.0% |
| 1997 | 0 deaths | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 2,851 deaths | — |
| 1999 | 5,615 deaths | +96.9% |
| 2000 | 1,897 deaths | -66.2% |
| 2001 | 1,313 deaths | -30.8% |
| 2002 | 3,050 deaths | +132.3% |
| 2003 | 1,420 deaths | -53.4% |
| 2004 | 2,222 deaths | +56.5% |
| 2005 | 934 deaths | -58.0% |
| 2006 | 1,419 deaths | +51.9% |
| 2007 | 1,480 deaths | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 816 deaths | -44.9% |
| 2009 | 1,144 deaths | +40.2% |
| 2010 | 1,962 deaths | +71.5% |
| 2011 | 554 deaths | -71.8% |
| 2012 | 944 deaths | +70.4% |
| 2013 | 1,003 deaths | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 324 deaths | -67.7% |
| 2015 | 505 deaths | +55.9% |
| 2016 | 1,129 deaths | +123.6% |
| 2017 | 488 deaths | -56.8% |
| 2018 | 830 deaths | +70.1% |
| 2019 | 602 deaths | -27.5% |
| 2020 | 26,784 deaths | +4349.2% |
| 2021 | 134,455 deaths | +402.0% |
| 2022 | 173,108 deaths | +28.7% |
| 2023 | 7,867 deaths | -95.5% |
| 2024 | 11,915 deaths | +51.5% |
| 2025 | 17,882 deaths | +50.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 17,882 deaths is above the median for low income countries, which is 371 deaths, 48.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 17,882 deaths is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5 deaths, 35764.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4349.2% | 602 deaths | 26,784 deaths |
| 1995 | +1428.3% | 92 deaths | 1,406 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18,909 deaths | 18,909 deaths | 18,909 deaths | 1 |
| 1990s | 4,162 deaths | 0 deaths | 22,117 deaths | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,570 deaths | 816 deaths | 3,050 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 834.1 deaths | 324 deaths | 1,962 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 62,002 deaths | 7,867 deaths | 173,108 deaths | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More health data for Ethiopia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9494 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 744.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 19,997 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 148 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0709 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia?
- Deaths in armed conflicts in Ethiopia was 17,882 deaths in 2025, according to Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 173,108 deaths in 2022.
- What is the lowest deaths in armed conflicts recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 deaths in 1997.
- How does Ethiopia rank for deaths in armed conflicts?
- Ethiopia ranks 4th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is deaths in armed conflicts rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,441.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Uppsala Conflict Data Program (2026); geoBoundaries (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths in armed conflicts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
High estimate of the number of deaths of combatants and civilians due to fighting in interstate, intrastate, extrasystemic, non-state conflicts, and one-sided violence that were ongoing that year.