Arada is the historic centre of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, covering 9.91 km² north of the city core. It counted 211,501 residents at the 2007 census, projected to 298,044 for 2022 by the Ethiopian Statistics Service. Established in 1887, it is the oldest of the capital’s sub-cities and holds most of its founding-era buildings.
Arada borders five sub-cities: Gullele, Yeka, Kirkos, Lideta and Addis Ketema. At roughly 21,000 people per km² on the census count, it is one of the densest parts of the city.
Neighborhoods & Areas
- Abacoran Sefer
- Adwa Dildiy
- Ambassador
- Amist Kilo
- Arat Kilo
- Aroge Kera
- Atekelet Tera
- Bias Meberat
- Doro Manekiya
- Enqulal Faberika
- Eri Bekentu
- Gedam Sefer
- Giorgis
- Habte Giorgis
- Piazza
- Posta Bet
- Ras Mekonnen Dildiy
- Sebara Babur
- Somali Tera
- Taliyan Sefer
- Webe Berha
- Yohannes
The “kilo” names — Arat Kilo, Amist Kilo — are old distance markers, four and five units out from a former reference point. Both are now university and government quarters. Piazza, laid out during the Italian occupation, is the shopping and jewellery district.
Districts
Arada is divided into 10 woredas, numbered 1 to 10, according to the Addis Ababa Civil Registration and Residency Service Agency. The sub-city administration office is at Arat Kilo, near the Berhanena Selam printing enterprise.
Landmarks & Institutions
St George’s Cathedral at Menelik II Square is the sub-city’s best-known building, commissioned after the Ethiopian victory at Adwa in 1896. Menelik II Square itself is the northern terminus of the light rail Blue Line and a standard reference point for the city centre.
The National Museum of Ethiopia sits between Arat Kilo and Amist Kilo, holding the Lucy hominid fossil. Addis Ababa University’s main campus occupies the former Genete Leul Palace nearby, and the National Palace stands at Arat Kilo. Hager Fikir Theatre, opened in 1935, is the oldest theatre in the country. The Taitu Hotel at Piazza, built in 1907, was Ethiopia’s first hotel and still operates.
Population
The 2007 census recorded 211,501 people in Arada. The 2022 projection from the Ethiopian Statistics Service is 298,044, a projection rather than a count. Amharic dominates. The sub-city has long-established Armenian, Greek and Indian communities around Piazza, and their churches and schools remain in use.
Getting Around
The Addis Ababa Light Rail Blue Line starts at Menelik II Square and runs south through Merkato and Lideta to Kaliti. Arat Kilo and Piazza are walkable from each other, and most of the sub-city’s landmarks sit within a 2 km stretch.
Minibus taxis use Piazza and Arat Kilo as major interchange points. Bole International Airport is about 8 km south-east by the Bole road.
FAQ
Where is Arada in Addis Ababa?
Arada is in the north of the city centre, between Gullele to the north and Kirkos to the south. It covers 9.91 km².
How many woredas does Arada have?
Ten, numbered 1 to 10.
What is the population of Arada?
211,501 at the 2007 census; 298,044 in the 2022 official projection.
What is Arada known for?
It is the historic heart of Addis Ababa: St George’s Cathedral, Menelik II Square, Piazza, the National Museum, Addis Ababa University and the National Palace are all here.
When was Arada established?
1887, which makes it the oldest district in the capital.
What does Piazza mean here?
Piazza is the commercial quarter of Arada laid out under Italian administration in the late 1930s. It remains the city’s jewellery and small-goods shopping district.