Although Ethiopia’s religious landscape has historically been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Islam, evangelical Christianity has emerged over recent decades as one of the country’s fastest-growing religious movements. The movement has a deeply rooted historical stronghold in the Gambella region and has strong communities spread across Ethiopia including in Addis Ababa and Hawassa. Other smaller urban and peri-urban communities have begun to emerge that are projected to anchor a large evangelical presence in the coming years.
The movement is particularly concentrated in urban and peri-urban environments. Growth is prominently concentrated within urban and peri-urban environments. The cities with the largest evangelical presence span multiple regions of the country:
According to the 2007 national census, approximately 44% of Ethiopians belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, 34% are Sunni Muslims, and about 19% identify with Evangelical or Pentecostal Christian groups. Religious affiliation also varies significantly by region: most Amharas primarily follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, while Islam is most prevalent in the Afar, Somali, and parts of Oromia regions. Protestant Christianity has its strongest presence in the Gambella region, the former Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), and parts of Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz.