What is the capital city of Ethiopia?

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia. Founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu, it became the country’s political and administrative centre.

The city sits at an elevation of roughly 2,355 metres in the Ethiopian Highlands. Its name means “new flower” in Amharic, Ethiopia’s principal working language. Addis Ababa is also a major commercial, cultural and transport hub, with Bole International Airport serving as an important regional gateway.

The city has an outsized diplomatic role in Africa. The headquarters of the African Union are located there, as is the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Addis Ababa was briefly occupied by Italy during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, from 1936 to 1941, before Ethiopian sovereignty was restored.