Bishoftu Population 2026

Bishoftu has a population of 207,400, making it the #13 biggest city in 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, located in Oromiya. Roughly 0.1% of Ethiopia's population lives here. It is about 19× smaller than Addis Ababa, the country's biggest city.

Addis AbabaBishoftu
Location of Bishoftu (capital Addis Ababa shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
207,400
Rank in Ethiopia
#13
Coordinates
8.75°N, 38.98°E
~1,978 m elevation · Africa/Addis_Ababa
Distance to capital (Addis Ababa)
40 km
25 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Oromiya

CityPopulationRank in Ethiopia
Nazrēt456,900#5
Jimma250,900#11
Shashamane208,400#12
Nek’emtē156,000#19
Āsela139,500#23
Sebeta102,300#28
Burayu101,400#29
Hāgere Hiywet99,900#31

Cities near Bishoftu

  • Nazrēt456,900 people · ~39 km away
  • Addis Ababa3,860,000 people · ~40 km away
  • Sebeta102,300 people · ~44 km away
  • Burayu101,400 people · ~47 km away
  • Āsela139,500 people · ~91 km away
  • Insēno30,500 people · ~95 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Bishoftu?
Bishoftu has a population of 207,400 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #13 biggest city in Ethiopia.
What region is Bishoftu in?
Bishoftu is located in Oromiya, Ethiopia.
Is Bishoftu the capital of Ethiopia?
No, the capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, about 40 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

← All biggest cities in Ethiopia · Ethiopia population by year