Ethiopia: Flag and Facts
Ethiopia's flag has green, yellow and red horizontal stripes with a light blue disk in the middle holding a yellow star and rays of light.
- Official name
- Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
- Capital
- Addis Ababa
- Region
- Eastern Africa
- Population
- 121 million (2025)
- Languages
- Amharic
- Currency
- Ethiopian birr
- Area
- 1,104,300 km² (426,372 sq mi)
- People
- Ethiopian
- Calling code
- +251
- Highest point
- Ras Dejen 4,550 m
- Independence
- oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, at least 2,000 years
- National symbols
- Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by government)
About Ethiopia
That central emblem was added in 1996. The star stands for unity and equality among Ethiopians, and the blue disk for peace. Green means hope and fertile land, yellow means justice and harmony, and red means sacrifice and heroism.
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, going back at least 2,000 years to the Aksumite Kingdom. The oldest hominid found so far came from here, and in the 4th century A.D. it became the second country to make Christianity official. Monarchies ruled from 980 B.C. until 1855, when the Amhara kingdoms joined under Tewodros II. At the Battle of Adwa in 1896, Ethiopians beat Italian forces. Italy still occupied the country from 1936 to 1941. More than 80 ethnic groups live here today.
Did you know?
- Ras Dejen, the tallest mountain in Ethiopia, reaches 4,550 meters.
- The Great Rift Valley cuts the high central plateau in two.
- Addis Ababa has about 5.461 million people.
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Questions about Ethiopia
Is Ethiopia landlocked?
Yes. Ethiopia has no coastline, and the Danakil Depression, 125 meters below sea level, is its lowest point.
What language is spoken in Ethiopia?
Amharic is the main language listed.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.