Dire Dawa Population 2026

Dire Dawa has a population of 343,000, making it the #9 biggest city in 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, located in Dire Dawa. Roughly 0.2% of Ethiopia's population lives here. It is about 11× smaller than Addis Ababa, the country's biggest city.

Location of Dire Dawa (capital Addis Ababa shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

343,000

Rank in Ethiopia

Coordinates

9.59°N, 41.87°E

~1,204 m elevation · Africa/Addis_Ababa

Distance to capital (Addis Ababa)

348 km

216 miles, straight line

Cities near Dire Dawa

Harar157,000 people · ~42 km away
Ārabī148,933 people · ~80 km away
Jijiga483,000 people · ~106 km away
Āwash36,500 people · ~198 km away
Asaita39,400 people · ~225 km away
Mīlē21,700 people · ~236 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Dire Dawa?

Dire Dawa has a population of 343,000 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #9 biggest city in Ethiopia.

What region is Dire Dawa in?

Dire Dawa is located in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

Is Dire Dawa the capital of Ethiopia?

No, the capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, about 348 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.

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