Ethiopia is a religiously diverse society, with Christianity as the largest percentage and also a good number of Muslims. Nearly two-thirds (62.8%) of the Ethiopian population follows Christianity and 1/3rd (34% are followers of Islam. A small percentage of the population are adherents of traditional African religions and other religions.

Ethiopia Religion Percentage

Christianity in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian states in the world and it has the third-largest Christian population in Africa.  The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is an Oriental Orthodox Church, which is the largest Christian denomination in Ethiopia, approx  43.5% of the Ethiopian population.  It’s followed by Protestants at 18.6% and Catholics at 0.7%.

Orthodox Ethiopian Christians are predominant in the Tigray (95.6%) and Amhara (82.5%), while the majority of Protestants live in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region or SNNPR (55.5% of the inhabitants) and the Oromia Region (4.8 million or 17.7%).

Muslims in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has the fifth largest Muslim population in Africa. Sunnis form the majority of Muslims with non-denominational Muslims being the second largest group of Muslims, and the Shia and Ahmadiyyas are a minority.

Roughly 68% of Ethiopian Muslims are Sunni, whilst 23% are non-denominational Muslims, whilst another 2% adhere to other sects such as Shia, Quranist, Ibadi etc. and some belonging to various Sufi orders.

 Islam is most prevalent in the Somali (98.4%), Afar (95.3%) and Oromia (47.5%) Regions.

Projected Religious Demographics of Ethiopia (2010-2050)

According to  PEW Research estimates, while Christianity remains the dominant religion, the percentage of Muslims is gradually increasing over time. Folk religions are also present but show a slight decline in adherence. Other religions make up less than 1% of the population.