Is Ethiopia a Christian or Muslim country?

Ethiopia is both, and officially neither. The constitution separates religion and the state and guarantees freedom of religion, so there is no state religion. Most Ethiopians are Christian, the largest group being members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and around a third are Muslim. Both faiths have deep roots here, and both shape daily life, the calendar and the public holidays.

For visitors, that mix is one of the pleasures of the country. In Addis Ababa you'll find churches and mosques in the same neighbourhoods, crowds dressed in white at Orthodox festivals, and families celebrating Eid. With a driver by the day, it is easy to visit a cathedral in the morning and a mosque or museum in the afternoon, with the car waiting at each stop.

What are the main religions in Ethiopia?

The most recent national census was in 2007, so the figures are old, but they are the official ones:

• Ethiopian Orthodox Christians: about 44% (43.5%).
• Muslims: about 34% (33.9%), almost all Sunni.
• Protestant and evangelical Christians (often called P'ent'ay): about 19% (18.6%).
• Traditional religions: about 2.6%, mainly in the south and south-west.
• Catholics: under 1%, with smaller numbers of other groups, including a small Ethiopian Jewish community.

Many observers believe the Muslim and evangelical shares have risen since 2007. Put together, Christians of all churches make up roughly two-thirds of the population.

Where do Christians and Muslims mostly live?

Broadly, Orthodox Christianity dominates the northern and central highlands, including Amhara and Tigray. Islam is the main faith in the Afar and Somali regions, in parts of Oromia, and in the historic walled city of Harar in the east. Protestant churches are strongest in the south and west, including the former Southern Nations region and Gambella. Addis Ababa, as the capital, has large communities of all three.

Why is Christianity so old in Ethiopia?

The Kingdom of Aksum, in what is now northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, adopted Christianity as its state religion in the 4th century, under King Ezana, making it one of the first Christian states in the world. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church grew from that root. It belongs to the Oriental Orthodox family, was linked to the Coptic Church of Egypt until 1959, and has its own traditions: every church holds a tabot, a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, which priests carry out in procession on big feast days such as Timkat.

How did Islam reach Ethiopia?

Very early. Around 615, followers of the Prophet Muhammad fleeing persecution in Mecca were given shelter by the Christian king of Aksum, known in Arabic tradition as the Najashi. This is remembered as the first hijra, and a 7th-century Muslim community at Negash in Tigray is among the oldest in Africa. Islam later grew strongest in the east of the Horn, among the Somali and Harari peoples.

Harar, a walled city in the east, is its best-known centre. UNESCO lists Harar Jugol as a World Heritage Site, with 82 mosques and 102 shrines within and around its walls, and describes it as considered the fourth holy city of Islam.

Which religious holidays are public holidays?

Ethiopia gives public holidays for both faiths. Christian dates follow the Ethiopian church calendar and are set in advance; Muslim dates follow the moon and are confirmed close to the day. The next ones:

• Genna (Ethiopian Christmas): 7 January 2027.
• Timkat (Epiphany): 19 January 2027.
• Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan): around 9–10 March 2027, depending on the moon. Ramadan is expected to begin around 7 February 2027.
• Siklet (Good Friday) and Fasika (Easter): 30 April and 2 May 2027.
• Eid al-Adha: around 16–17 May 2027, depending on the moon.
• Mawlid (the Prophet's birthday): around 15 August 2027.
• Meskel (Finding of the True Cross): late September, with the Demera bonfire on the eve.

Big holidays bring huge, joyful crowds to churches and open spaces in Addis, and some roads close. If you're visiting over a holiday, we plan the day around the closures and drop you as close as the car can get. Tell us your dates and we can also book your hotel early, as festival weeks fill up.

How does religion affect a visit?

1. Fasting food is everywhere. Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and in long seasons such as Lent, eating vegan food. The church counts about 250 fasting days a year, 180 of them expected of lay people, so restaurants always have excellent vegan dishes.
2. Ramadan is observed individually. There are no official rules for visitors, but be discreet about eating and drinking in public in daylight, especially in Muslim areas.
3. Dress modestly at religious sites. Cover shoulders and knees. At Orthodox churches you take off your shoes, and women usually cover their hair.
4. Ask first. Ask permission before entering a church or mosque and before photographing worshippers, priests or services.
5. Respect big gatherings. Festival crowds are friendly, but keep valuables secure and follow instructions from officials.

Do Christians and Muslims get along in Ethiopia?

Largely, yes. Ethiopia is religiously diverse and broadly tolerant, and in many towns and neighbourhoods people of both faiths live side by side. There have been local religious tensions and disputes at times, often tied to wider politics, so, as anywhere, it is wise to avoid debates about religion and politics with people you've just met.

If you'd like to see some of this for yourself in Addis Ababa, Holy Trinity Cathedral, the churches on Entoto hill and the Anwar Grand Mosque are all within the city. A driver by the day can link them in one trip, dropping you at each door and waiting while you visit.