ETHIOPIAN PUBLIC SERVICEUNIVERSITY
[Document subtitle]
SUBMISSION DATE: JAN/07/2026
SUBMITTED TO: DR. MITIKU ADDISU
GROUP MEMBERS
1. GELILA ZELALEM…EPSU2500905
2. DAGMAWIT ASRAT… EPSU 2500828
3. MOHAMMED KEDIR… EPSU2500858
4. LEUL TAMENE…EPSU2500862
5. EBBA FEKADU…EPSU2500667
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Urbanization in Ethiopia and its drivers
Table of content
1. Introduction………………………………………………….. 1
1.1 What is urbanization? .......................................1
1.2 urbanization in Ethiopia………………………………….2
1.3 cause of urbanization in Ethiopia…………………….2
2. Drivers of Urbanization in Ethiopia ……………........3
2.1 Rural–Urban Migration…………………………………..
2.2 push and pull factor……………………………………….
2.3 social and cultural factor ……………………………….
3. Challenges of Urbanization…………………………....6
3.1High rate of urbanization………………………………………6
3.2 Migration and the overcrowding of cities…………….6
3.3 Urbanization and the development trap ……………..7
3.4 The lack of urban services…………………………………….7
4. Effect of urbanization…………………………………….7
4.1Positive ……………………………………………………………7
4.2negative……………………………………………………………8
4.3 problem ………………………………………………………….8
5. Conclusion ………………………………………..9
6. Reference …………………………………………10
What is urbanization?
1
Urbanization is the process where populations moves from rural to urban areas,
leading to the growth of cities and towns for the sack of work and living centers
”Urbanization is a process of population concentration or settlement It proceeds
in two ways: the multiplication of points of concentration and the increase in size
of points of concentration.” (Oluwasola 2007). The physical growth of urban areas
can be explained demographically and functionally. While demographic definition
of urbanization is restricted to factors such as population size and density, the
economic functional definition refers to the territorial concentration of
productive activities (industries and service) rather than population.
Urbanization in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a mostly agrarian rural country with only its capital, Addis Ababa,
having over 1 million people. However the urban population of Ethiopia has
expanded dramatically, from 10.8 million in 2002 to 28 million in 2022, a growth
of 160%, which has resulted in the urban population as a percentage of the total
population growing from 15% to 23% over the same time period .As of at least
2024, it continues to be one of the most rapidly urbanizing countries in the world.
In Ethiopia, urban areas are defined basically as places having a minimum
population of 2,000. The current coverage of urban areas in the country is less
than 20%, and even the majorities are small towns that account more than 85% of
the urbanized areas in the country. However, urbanization in the country is
increasing rapidly, at a rate of 4.63% annually. Spatially, the highest urbanization
ratios occur in small towns surrounding the Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa.
Still, the recently urbanized areas are characterized as shanty, slum and
spontaneous. On the other hand, the current rate of urbanization in the country
indicates that there will be more urbanized areas in the future, which need better
urban planning and management.
Cause of urbanization in Ethiopia
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Rural-urban migration in Amhara is a multi-causal process. The study
reveals food shortages resulting from landlessness and drought as the
principal factor for rural-urban migration. Debt, information flow and
exigent cultural conventions are also important factors. The income
from migration enables rural households to supplement poor harvests,
service debts and diversify their livelihood. Migration, however,
contributes to the spread of disease, as well as socio-culturally
undesirable habits producing dysfunctional families and other societal
ills. Considering migration is a livelihood option for the rural poor,
policy objectives should be to support returning migrants rather than
manage its adversities.
Drivers of Urbanization in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, urban areas are defined basically as places having a
minimum population of 2,000. The current coverage of urban areas in
the country is less than 20%, and even the majorities are small towns
that account more than 85% of the urbanized areas in the country.
However, urbanization in the country is increasing rapidly, at a rate of
4.63% annually. Spatially, the highest urbanization ratios occur in small
towns surrounding the Ethiopia's capital city, Addis Ababa.
Recently urbanized areas are characterized as shanty, slum and
spontaneous. On the other hand, the current rate of urbanization in the
country indicates that there will be more urbanized areas in the future,
which need better urban planning and effective management.
The drivers of spontaneous urban development in Ethiopia relate
primarily to socio-cultural components such as worship places, local
markets, educational institutions, and administrative centers that the
drivers for the emergence of spontaneous urban development in
3
Ethiopia relate primarily to socio-cultural components, such as in the
case of worshiping places, local markets, educational and
administrative centers. Physical infrastructure, such as roads played
also a significant but subordinate role in the intensification of such
developments. Ineffective management of these factors has
contributed to dysfunctional urban growth in Ethiopia.
Rural urban migration
Rural-urban migration is a movement of a rural resident to an urban
destination for different reasons.
The area of origin (departure) is a place from which a move is made
whereas area of destination is a place where the move is terminated.
A kind of migration whether internal, regional and international has
economic advantages; the accesses to employment and earnings
become wide. Even more international migration has contributed much
for diminution of poverty at household level and also plays a great role
for the establishment of strong human capital.
Migrants active involvement in the community overall economic,
social, and cultural spheres has great effects. Their participation may
express in sending remittance, skill, technology to fill the gap of to
society. This engagement fosters rural 10 economies and advances
economic development.
Migration can also be a form of portfolio diversification for families who
seek to settle some members in areas where they may not be affected
by economic shocks in the same way as if they had stayed at home.
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Push and pull factor
The former are negative factors tending to force migrants to leave
origin areas, while the later are positive factors attracting migrant to
destination areas in the expectation of improving their standard of
living.
Generally, all factors associated with migration to be included in the
following categories.
1. Factors associated with the areas of origin (Push factors)
2. Factors associated with the areas of destination (Pull factors)
3. Personal factors.
There are four main factors in the act of migration: characteristics of
the origins, characteristics of the destination, nature of intervening
obstacles and nature of the people.
The push factors could be more important than pull factors. Although
migration can be produced either by push or pull factors
Migration mostly is a result of a combination of both push and pull
factors that are associated with the areas of origin, destination and also
governed by personal factors. Persons own individual emotions,
knowledge and intelligence can affect the decision to migrate or not
(Lee, 1966 cited in Aliyev, 2008)
Social and cultural factor
Social and cultural factors refer to the society and cultural influences
take places on individuals and communities, shaping their beliefs,
behaviors, and practices. In the senses of agriculture, these factors play
a significant role in determining farming methods, land use, and food
consumption patterns, as they can affect everything from what crops
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are grown to how agricultural practices are organized spatially.
Challenges and Problems of Urbanization
High rate of urbanization
Urbanization in Ethiopia is undertaking at an unmatched rate.
Historically, Ethiopia has been one of the least urbanized countries in
Africa (20% compared to Africa's 40% in 2018).
However, the rate of urbanization in the last three decades has been
advancing at an accelerating rate – 4.8% compared to Africa's 4.1
percent.
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At this rate, about 35% of the population is projected to live in urban
areas by 2030. This rate will have a major impact on the economy.
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The economy cannot keep pace with the rate of growth of the urban
population
Migration and the overcrowding of cities
Migration to urban areas is increasing as the 'push and pull' factors in
many of Ethiopia's rural areas are intensifying. A whole range of social,
economic and political problems impacting the country.
Over-concentration of the population in a few urban areas, primarily in
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Addis Ababa, is creating undue pressure on the city's resources.
Ethiopian cities have become a destiny for the desperado and the poor
in our society. For many young people, our cities are becoming a dead-
end in their search for a better life.
Urbanization and the development trap
As a result of the unprecedented urbanization rate, Ethiopia is suffering
from what is known as "Africa's development trap" An economic
change where cities are becoming overcrowded, disconnected and
costly. They are becoming costly for firms and households, making it
difficult to do business or survive. The problem is both structural and
institutional as the following statements illustrate.
The lack of urban services
The overcrowding of Ethiopia's cities on one hand and the lack of
infrastructure on the other has made many Ethiopian cities "the city of
the poor". Most cities are not able to provide basic services including
housing, water, transportation, power, health services, education and
safety, and security.
Effects of Urbanization: The Positive
Especially for those coming from rural areas, urban areas can create an
overall better quality of life in several ways. When urban areas become
bustling cities and towns, they become a society of culture that can
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facilitate financial and educational growth.
Employment Opportunities
With industrialization comes the creation of jobs. Usually making a shift
from an agricultural economy, industrialization paves the way for
modern industries and will need more people to perform various jobs.
Rural jobs such as farming and mining may be labor-intensive (that is, if
they have not been taken over by machines or automatic devices),
while urban employment opportunities — such as healthcare, business,
and education — will need a considerable amount of people with a
variety of skills to fill many jobs.
Modernization
Modern technology driven by the right information provides for a
better city infrastructure. With modernization of the urban
environment, cities can adapt to cultural needs and provide support
systems for future development.
Access
Industrialization coupled with modernization brings an ample amount
of access for a city and the citizens within it. Accessibility to the
Internet, better healthcare, education, recreational activities, social
services, and more all improve livability.
Problems of Urbanization
In theory, urbanization is a brilliant concept. However, urbanized cities
are running into major problems as a result of a rapidly growing
population. Many urban cities have seen a population explosion that
can be hard to plan for. As a result, employment opportunities may dry
up quicker than expected — leading to unemployment. Additionally,
housing problems may arise with a very high population density and
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can lead to poor housing conditions. These housing conditions are only
exacerbated by unemployment issues. Unemployment and poor
housing (or, the unattainability of adequate housing) is creating an
influx of crime in urban cities as well. As it stands today, urbanization
has several major drawbacks.
Conclusion
Ethiopia has experienced the fastest rates of urbanization, and one of
the major challenges of urban development in the country has been
spontaneously emerging settlements, which have contributed to the
country's increasing and unplanned urban growth trends, but spatial
drivers for the spontaneity were overlooked.
The presence of settlement patches in rural areas is the primary cause
of this, and such trends usually intensify between the time an area
receives urban entitlement and the preparation of its first formal plan
centered on social-cultural services and physical infrastructures,
hastening the haphazard urbanization process.
The social-cultural services are more prevalent at the inception of
urbanization, typically forming patches of spontaneously emerging
settlements. Physical infrastructures, on the other hand, drive patch
connectivity and increase the intensity of the built up spaces, and
determine the growth directions of urban areas.
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REFERENCE
(Lee, 1966 cited in Aliyev, 2008)
(Oded Stark) cited in (Todaro: 2012, p.336
Siddqui, 2012) cited in (Altaye: 2015, p.20).
United Nations. (2019). World Urbanization Prospects.
Britannica. (n.d.). Urbanization.
Britannica. (n.d.). Push and Pull Factors.
Central Statistical Agency (CSA). (2018). Population Projection of Ethiopia.
World Bank. (2015). Ethiopia Urbanization Review.
UN-Habitat. (2014). State of African Cities.
Ministry of Urban Development and Construction (MUDC). (2017). Urban Development Policy of
Ethiopia.
World Population Review. (n.d.). Cities in Ethiopia
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