Yirga ‘Alem Population 2026

Yirga ‘Alem has a population of 81,600, making it the #40 biggest city in 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, located in Sidama Region. Roughly 0.1% of Ethiopia's population lives here. It is about 47× smaller than Addis Ababa, the country's biggest city.

Location of Yirga ‘Alem (capital Addis Ababa shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

81,600

Rank in Ethiopia

#40

Coordinates

6.75°N, 38.42°E

~1,778 m elevation · Africa/Addis_Ababa

Distance to capital (Addis Ababa)

256 km

159 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Sidama Region

City	Population	Rank in Ethiopia
Awasa	422,200	#7
Wendo	59,300	#62
Ch’iko	49,500	#76
Leku	31,700	#131

Cities near Yirga ‘Alem

Leku31,700 people · ~14 km away
Wendo59,300 people · ~17 km away
Ch’iko49,500 people · ~21 km away
Awasa422,200 people · ~35 km away
Dīla158,800 people · ~39 km away
Shashamane208,400 people · ~54 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Yirga ‘Alem?

Yirga ‘Alem has a population of 81,600 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #40 biggest city in Ethiopia.

What region is Yirga ‘Alem in?

Yirga ‘Alem is located in Sidama Region, Ethiopia.

Is Yirga ‘Alem the capital of Ethiopia?

No, the capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, about 256 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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