Highest Poverty in Ethiopia

Top 100 cities ranked by highest poverty

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · Ethiopia

Highest Poverty — Ethiopia

1 Mīlē 45 38.6%

2 Hagere Maryam 51 38.6%

3 Hāgere Selam SI 38.6%

4 Harar 50 38.6%

5 Harbu 46 38.6%

6 Hartīshēk 52 38.6%

7 Hāyk’ 46 38.6%

8 Hīrna 51 38.6%

9 Hosa’ina 55 38.6%

10 Huruta 51 38.6%

11 Ibnat 46 38.6%

12 Idaga Hamus 53 38.6%

13 Ījajī 51 38.6%

14 Inda Silasē 53 38.6%

15 Indabaguna 53 38.6%

16 Injibara 46 38.6%

17 Insēno 55 38.6%

18 Intich’o 53 38.6%

19 Īteya 51 38.6%

20 Jijiga 52 38.6%

21 Jimma 51 38.6%

22 Jinka 56 38.6%

23 K’ola Diba 46 38.6%

24 K’olīto 55 38.6%

25 Kachīsī 51 38.6%

26 Kahandhale 52 38.6%

27 Kara K’orē 46 38.6%

28 Kebri Dahar 52 38.6%

29 Kele 51 38.6%

30 Kemisē 46 38.6%

31 Kercha 51 38.6%

32 Kibre Mengist 51 38.6%

33 Kobo 46 38.6%

34 Kofelē 51 38.6%

35 Kombolcha 46 38.6%

36 Komtikas SW 38.6%

37 Korem 53 38.6%

38 Kuyera 51 38.6%

39 Lalibela 46 38.6%

40 Lasoano 52 38.6%

41 Leku SI 38.6%

42 Logīya 45 38.6%

43 Lumamē 46 38.6%

44 Maksenyit 46 38.6%

45 Mambuk 47 38.6%

46 May Cadera 53 38.6%

47 Maych’ew 53 38.6%

48 Mēga 51 38.6%

49 Mehal Mēda 46 38.6%

50 Mehoni 45 38.6%

51 Mek'ele 53 38.6%

52 Mek’ī 51 38.6%

53 Mena 51 38.6%

54 Mendī 51 38.6%

55 Mer’āwī 46 38.6%

56 Mersa 46 38.6%

57 Mertule Maryam 46 38.6%

58 Metahāra 51 38.6%

59 Metemma 46 38.6%

60 Metu 51 38.6%

61 Mī’ēso 51 38.6%

62 Sodo 56 38.6%

63 Ziway 51 38.6%

64 Yirga Ch’efē 56 38.6%

65 Yirga ‘Alem SI 38.6%

66 Yamarugley 52 38.6%

67 Yabēlo 51 38.6%

68 Worabe 55 38.6%

69 Wonji 51 38.6%

70 Wik’ro 53 38.6%

71 Werota 46 38.6%

72 Were Īlu 46 38.6%

73 Wenjī 51 38.6%

74 Wendo SI 38.6%

75 Wenago 56 38.6%

76 Welk’īt’ē 55 38.6%

77 Welench’ītī 51 38.6%

78 Weldiya 46 38.6%

79 Wegeda 46 38.6%

80 Warder 52 38.6%

81 Waliso 51 38.6%

82 Waka SW 38.6%

83 Wacha SW 38.6%

84 Waal 52 38.6%

85 Tulu Bolo 51 38.6%

86 Tīlīlī 46 38.6%

87 Tikil Dingay 46 38.6%

88 Tēpī SW 38.6%

89 Tebela 56 38.6%

90 Tarch’a Sodo SW 38.6%

91 T’īs Isat 46 38.6%

92 Suntu 51 38.6%

93 Raqo 52 38.6%

94 Nejo 51 38.6%

95 Nek’emtē 51 38.6%

96 Qorof 52 38.6%

97 Robit 46 38.6%

98 Sagurē 51 38.6%

99 Negēlē 51 38.6%

100 Robīt 46 38.6%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Ethiopia face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Mīlē has a poverty rate of 38.6%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

1. In Mīlē, 38.6% of residents — roughly 1 in 3 people — live below the poverty line.
2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size — the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

Browse Rankings by Region

Ethiopia — By Region

Āfar Amhara Central Ethiopia Regional State Oromiya Sidama Region Somali South Ethiopia Regional State South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region Tigray

By Country

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestinian Territory Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Netherlands Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe