Ethiopia has the largest population of any landlocked country. With roughly 135 million people in 2025, it is far more populous than other landlocked nations such as Niger, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.
Ethiopia is landlocked today, but it was not always so: Eritrea’s independence in 1993 removed Ethiopia’s coastline on the Red Sea. The country occupies much of the Horn of Africa and includes Addis Ababa, one of the continent’s major urban centers.
Its population is also exceptionally diverse. More than 80 ethnic groups live in Ethiopia, with Oromo, Amhara, Somali, and Tigrayan communities among the largest. Rapid population growth has helped make Ethiopia one of Africa’s demographic giants.
A common mix-up is confusing the most populous landlocked country with the most populous country in Africa. Nigeria holds that broader title, while Ethiopia is the clear answer when the landlocked condition is added.