Addis Ketema is a sub-city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, covering 7.41 km² in the north-west of the capital. It counted 255,372 residents at the 2007 census, projected to 359,735 by the Ethiopian Statistics Service for 2022. It is the smallest sub-city by area and by far the most crowded, at roughly 34,000 people per km² on the census count.
The sub-city is built around Merkato, the open-air market that anchors wholesale trade for much of Ethiopia. Addis Ketema borders four sub-cities: Gullele, Arada, Lideta and Kolfe Keranio.
Neighborhoods & Areas
Most local place names here are market names. “Tera” means a trading section, and Merkato is a grid of them, each historically dealing in one class of goods.
- Ammanuel
- Aserasement
- Autobus Tera
- Bomb Tera
- Ched Tera
- Doro Tera
- Dubai Tera
- Ferash Tera
- Goma Tera
- Hadere Sefer
- Korech Tera
- Mentaf Tera
- Mesalemiya
- Mesob Tera
- Military Tera
- Minalesh Tera
- Satin Tera
- Sebategna
- Sehan Tera
- Shanta Tera
- Shekla Tera
- Shema Tera
- Shera Tera
- Werk Tera
Districts
Addis Ketema is divided into 14 woredas, numbered 1 to 14, according to the Addis Ababa Civil Registration and Residency Service Agency. The sub-city administration office sits near Groum Hospital. Woredas are the service tier residents deal with for identity cards, residency papers and land matters.
Landmarks & Institutions
Merkato is the dominant landmark and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa. Its sections still follow the old trade split: Shema Tera for woven cloth, Shekla Tera for pottery, Mesob Tera for the woven basket-tables used at meals, Minalesh Tera for second-hand goods, and Doro Tera for poultry.
Autobus Tera holds the city’s long-distance bus terminal, the departure point for most intercity coaches heading north and west. The Anwar Mosque, the largest mosque in Addis Ababa, stands in the Mesalemiya quarter beside the market.
Population
The 2007 census recorded 255,372 people in Addis Ketema. The Ethiopian Statistics Service projection for 2022 puts the figure at 359,735; that is a projection, not a count, because Ethiopia has held no national census since 2007. Amharic is the working language, with Oromo, Tigrinya, Gurage and Somali all commonly heard in the market.
Getting Around
The Addis Ababa Light Rail Blue Line runs from Menelik II Square through Merkato and Lideta down to Kaliti, giving Addis Ketema its fastest link to the city centre and the southern industrial belt. The line opened on 20 September 2015 and covers 16.9 km.
Minibus taxis and the city bus network converge on Autobus Tera and Merkato. Traffic inside the market grid is slow at all hours; walking is usually faster than driving between adjacent tera. Bole International Airport is about 10 km south-east.
FAQ
Where is Addis Ketema?
Addis Ketema is in north-west Addis Ababa, immediately west of the historic Piazza area in Arada. It covers 7.41 km².
What is Addis Ketema known for?
Merkato, the open-air market that fills most of the sub-city and supplies wholesale goods to traders across Ethiopia.
How many woredas does Addis Ketema have?
Fourteen, numbered 1 to 14.
What is the population of Addis Ketema?
255,372 at the 2007 census; 359,735 in the 2022 official projection.
Which sub-cities border Addis Ketema?
Gullele to the north, Arada to the east, Lideta to the south and Kolfe Keranio to the west.
Does the light rail serve Addis Ketema?
Yes. The Blue Line passes through Merkato on its way between Menelik II Square and Kaliti.