What is the capital of Ethiopia?

The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa. The city is Ethiopia’s political and administrative center and one of Africa’s most important diplomatic capitals.

Addis Ababa was founded in the late nineteenth century under Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul. The settlement grew around natural hot springs after the imperial court moved away from the less comfortable highland site of Entoto. It became the capital of the Ethiopian Empire in 1889 and expanded rapidly as roads, railways, government offices, and foreign missions developed.

The city stands at roughly 2,355 meters above sea level, making it one of the world’s highest national capitals. Its name is commonly translated from Amharic as “New Flower.” Addis Ababa also hosts the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, earning it the nickname “political capital of Africa.” Dire Dawa, Gondar, and Mekelle are important Ethiopian cities, but none is the country’s national capital.