Ethiopia vs Kenya
Every indicator for Ethiopia and Kenya side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Ethiopia | Kenya | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 135,472,051 | 57,532,493 | +135.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 126 | 136 | −7.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 933 | 2,363 | −60.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 67.6 | 63.8 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,136,240 | 591,969 | +91.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 119 | 97 | +22.7% |
| Median age (years) | 19.0 | 20.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 21.9 | 35.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.3 | 5.4 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 13.2 | 4.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 24.1 | 32.2 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 922 | 1,231 | −25.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 0.65 | 1.00 | −35.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 6.91 | 4.43 | +56.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 7 | 21 | −68.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 138,000 | 24,000 | +475.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 1.0 | 0.4 | +144.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.28 | 0.11 | +154.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Ethiopia relative to Kenya; a positive value favors Ethiopia. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Ethiopia is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Kenya leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 5.8 times; they are closest on gdp (nominal).
Key differences
- Ethiopia's armed forces personnel (2020) (138,000) is about 5.8 times Kenya's (24,000).
- Kenya's military expenditure per capita (21) is about 3.1 times Ethiopia's (7).
- Ethiopia's armed forces as a share of the labor force (0.28) is about 2.5 times Kenya's (0.11).
- Kenya's gdp per capita (2,363) is about 2.5 times Ethiopia's (933).
- Ethiopia's armed forces per 1,000 people (1.0) is about 2.4 times Kenya's (0.4).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Ethiopia and Kenya differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Ethiopia records 138,000 against Kenya's 24,000 — a ratio of roughly 5.8 to one.
Where are Ethiopia and Kenya most alike?
In gdp (nominal), at 136 and 126 — a gap of only %7.9.
On how many indicators is Ethiopia ahead of Kenya?
Ethiopia is higher on 7 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Kenya on 5. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
EthiopiaKenya
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Ethiopia or Kenya.
Ethiopia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Kenya profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI