Bole is a sub-city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, covering 122.08 km² in the south-east of the capital. It counted 308,995 residents at the 2007 census, projected to 435,421 for 2022 by the Ethiopian Statistics Service. It is the largest sub-city by area and holds Bole International Airport, Ethiopia’s main gateway.
Bole lost its north-eastern territory in 2020, when the city council created Lemi Kura sub-city from parts of Bole and Yeka. Bole now borders Lemi Kura, Yeka, Kirkos, Nifas Silk-Lafto and Akaky Kaliti.
Neighborhoods & Areas
- Bole Bulbula
- Bole Medhanialem
- Bole Mikael
- Gerji
- Gewasa
- Jackros
- Rwanda
- Urael
Bole Medhanialem and Urael are the commercial spine, lined with hotels, offices and restaurants along Africa Avenue. Gerji and Bole Bulbula are residential. Ayat, Bole Arabsa and the Ayat condominium zones, once listed under Bole, now fall under Lemi Kura.
Districts
Bole is divided into 15 woredas, numbered 1 to 15, according to the Addis Ababa Civil Registration and Residency Service Agency — the joint-highest count in the city. The sub-city administration office is at Megenagna, by the Koye Feche bus station.
Landmarks & Institutions
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is the hub of Ethiopian Airlines and the busiest passenger airport in Africa by traffic. Its terminals sit at the centre of the sub-city, which shapes almost everything around them: hotels, freight forwarders and airline offices cluster along the approach roads.
Bole Medhanialem Church, one of the largest Ethiopian Orthodox churches in the country, gives the main commercial district its name. Bole Lemi Industrial Park, on the eastern side, was the first of Ethiopia’s state-built industrial parks and concentrates garment and textile manufacturing for export. Edna Mall and the Friendship Park development along Africa Avenue are the main leisure destinations.
Population
The 2007 census recorded 308,995 residents in Bole. The 2022 projection of 435,421 is an Ethiopian Statistics Service estimate on the pre-2020 boundary, so it still counts people who now live in Lemi Kura. Ethiopia has held no census since 2007, and no separate official count exists for the reduced Bole.
Bole has the highest concentration of foreign residents and returnees in Addis Ababa. Amharic is the everyday language; English is widely used in the airport and hotel economy.
Getting Around
Bole is the easiest sub-city to reach from outside Ethiopia and among the harder ones to cross inside it. Africa Avenue (Bole Road) runs from Meskel Square to the airport and carries most of the traffic.
The light rail does not serve Bole directly; the nearest stations are on the Green Line at Megenagna and along the shared central section at Meskel Square. Minibus taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the gap. Megenagna is the main taxi interchange for the eastern half of the city.
FAQ
Where is Bole?
Bole is in south-east Addis Ababa, between Kirkos and Nifas Silk-Lafto to the west and Lemi Kura and the Oromia region to the east.
How many woredas does Bole have?
Fifteen, numbered 1 to 15.
What is the population of Bole?
308,995 at the 2007 census; 435,421 in the 2022 official projection, though that projection uses the pre-2020 boundary and includes what is now Lemi Kura.
Is Bole International Airport in Bole sub-city?
Yes. The airport sits in the middle of the sub-city and gives it its name in common use.
Did Bole lose land to Lemi Kura?
Yes. In October 2020 the Addis Ababa City Council created Lemi Kura as an eleventh sub-city from parts of Bole and Yeka, including the Ayat and Bole Arabsa areas.
What is Bole Lemi Industrial Park?
A state-developed industrial park on Bole’s eastern side, the first in Ethiopia’s industrial park programme, focused on garment and textile production for export.