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Ethiopia

The practical basics before you go: plugs, emergency numbers, money, tipping and the time.

EmergencyPolice 991Ambulance 907Fire 939

Plug typesC · E · F · L220 V · 50 Hz CurrencyETBEthiopian Birr

Drives on theright

TippingAbout 10 %

Local time–+251 · Calling code

The country in brief

About 135 million people live in Ethiopia, on 1,104,300 km². The capital is Addis Ababa.

Capital: Addis Ababa
Population: 135,472,051
Area: 1,104,300 km²
Official language: Amharic

Land borders

Djibouti Eritrea Kenya Somalia South Sudan Sudan

Facts change, so check the important things before you travel.
Population: World Bank, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). Capital, area and languages: Wikidata. Facts fetched October 30, 2026.

Before you go

Which plugs are used in Ethiopia?
Sockets take plug type C/E/F/L, at 220 V and 50 Hz.
What is the emergency number in Ethiopia?
Call 991 for the police, 907 for an ambulance and 939 for the fire brigade.
Do you tip in Ethiopia?
About 10 %.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Ethiopia?
Traffic drives on the right.
What currency is used in Ethiopia?
Prices are in Ethiopian Birr (ETB).
What language do they speak in Ethiopia?
Official language: Amharic.
How do I call a number in Ethiopia from abroad?
To call a number there from abroad, start with +251.