Dire Dawa

Ethiopia's second-largest city and one of its two chartered cities, founded on 24 December 1902 when the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway reached the site — the line couldn't climb further to Harar's higher elevation. A major industrial and trade hub in the east, with a notably diverse population spanning Oromo, Somali, Amhara, and other communities.

Population

600,000 (2025)

Area

1,053 km²

Last checked: 8/27/2026