Abiy Ahmed
1976 – PresentEthiopian Prime Minister since 2018 who won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace with neighboring Eritrea.
Famous People from Ethiopia
39 notable historical figures from Ethiopia, including leaders, artists, scientists, and other influential people.
Ethiopia has produced prominent figures, particularly in athletics and political leadership. The country's roster of 39 distinguished individuals includes a strong focus on sports, with 17 athletes and 16 long-distance runners. Political figures include Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2019, and President Sahle-Work Zewde, the first female head of state. The athletic history includes marathon runner Abebe Bikila, the first African to win an Olympic marathon gold medal, and distance running champions Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele. In politics, historical figures like Emperor Menilek II, who defended Ethiopian independence during the scramble for Africa, are notable, as well as recent leaders like former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and international figures like Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. These individuals show Ethiopia as Africa's oldest independent nation, contributing to global athletics and diplomacy.
athletics competitor (17)long-distance runner (15)politician (8)military personnel (5)minister (4)diplomat (4)middle-distance runner (3)actor (2)marathon runner (2)malariologist (1)
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
1965 – PresentEthiopian microbiologist and politician who has served as Director-General of the World Health Organization since 2017, leading global health responses including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hailemariam Desalegn
1965 – PresentEthiopian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2018, succeeding Meles Zenawi after his death.
Meles Zenawi
1955 – 2012Ethiopian politician who served as Prime Minister from 1995 until his death in 2012, leading the country's economic transformation and development.
Menilek II
1844 – 1913Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Shewa (1844-1913)
Sifan Hassan
1993 – PresentEthiopian-born Dutch runner who won Olympic gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at Tokyo 2020, becoming the first athlete to win both events at the same Olympics since 1972.
Zewditu I of Ethiopia
1876 – 1930Empress of Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930, the first woman to rule the country in her own right as monarch.
Ruth Negga
1981 – PresentEthiopian-Irish actress nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the 2016 film 'Loving' and known for her work in 'Preacher.'
Abebe Bikila
1932 – 1973Ethiopian marathon runner who became the first athlete to win consecutive Olympic marathon gold medals barefoot, winning in Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964.
Mengistu Haile Mariam
1937 – PresentEthiopian military officer who ruled as head of the Derg military junta from 1977 to 1991, responsible for the Red Terror campaign.
Yohannes IV
1837 – 1889Emperor of Ethiopia from 1871 to 1889 who modernized the Ethiopian military and died in battle against Mahdist forces.
Iyasu V
1895 – 1935Brief Emperor of Ethiopia who ruled from 1913-1916 before being deposed due to his alleged conversion to Islam and political conflicts.
Haile Gebrselassie
1973 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who set 27 world records and won two Olympic gold medals in the 10,000 meters.
Kenenisa Bekele
1982 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who holds multiple world records and won three Olympic gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
Tamirat Tola
1991 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who won the marathon gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.
Tirunesh Dibaba
1985 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who won three Olympic gold medals and set five world records, known as one of the greatest female distance runners.
Negasso Gidada
1943 – 2019Ethiopian historian and politician who served as President of Ethiopia from 1995 to 2001. He was also a prominent academic and Lutheran minister.
Genzebe Dibaba
1991 – PresentEthiopian middle and long-distance runner who holds the world record in the women's 1,500 meters and has won multiple world championships.
Mulatu Teshome
1957 – PresentEthiopian diplomat and politician who served as President of Ethiopia from 2013 to 2018.
Letesenbet Gidey
1998 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who holds world records in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and half marathon.
Bogaletch Gebre
1960 – 2019Ethiopian public health researcher and women's rights activist who founded KMG Ethiopia to combat harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation.
Gudaf Tsegay
1997 – PresentEthiopian middle and long-distance runner who holds the world record in the women's 5,000 meters and has won multiple world championship medals.
Almaz Ayana
1991 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who won Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters at Rio 2016 and set a world record in the process.
Sahle-Work Zewde
1950 – PresentEthiopia's first female president, serving from 2018 to 2021, and former diplomat who worked extensively with the United Nations.
Girma Wolde-Giorgis
1924 – 2018Ethiopian politician and economist who served as President of Ethiopia from 2001 to 2013.
Meseret Defar
1983 – PresentEthiopian middle-distance runner who won two Olympic gold medals in the 5,000 meters and set multiple world records.
Liya Kebede
1978 – PresentEthiopian supermodel and actress who became the first black model to represent Estée Lauder and founded the Liya Kebede Foundation for maternal health.
Tigst Assefa
1996 – PresentEthiopian marathon runner who set the women's world record at the 2023 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:11:53.
Elvan Abeylegesse
1982 – PresentEthiopian-born Turkish long-distance runner who won silver medals in the 5000m and 10000m at the 2004 Athens Olympics representing Turkey.
Mamo Wolde
1932 – 2002Ethiopian marathon runner who won the Olympic marathon gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Games and bronze in the 10,000m at the same Olympics.
Derartu Tulu
1972 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who became the first African woman to win Olympic gold in the 10,000 meters at Barcelona 1992.
Taye Atske Selassie
1956 – PresentEthiopian diplomat and politician who has served in various government positions including roles in international relations and foreign affairs.
Sileshi Sihine
1983 – PresentEthiopian long-distance runner who won Olympic silver medals in the 10,000m at both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games.
Mare Dibaba
1989 – PresentEthiopian marathon runner who won the 2015 Boston Marathon and claimed bronze at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.
Miruts Yifter
1944 – 2016Ethiopian long-distance runner known as 'Yifter the Shifter' who won gold medals in both the 5000m and 10000m at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Kalkidan Gezahegne
1991 – PresentEthiopian distance runner who won the 1500m bronze medal at the 2013 World Championships and competed in multiple Olympic Games.
Fatuma Roba
1973 – PresentEthiopian marathon runner who won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first African woman to win an Olympic marathon.
Related Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia?
Abiy Ahmed is the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He took office in 2018 and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his role in resolving the border conflict with Eritrea.
What Ethiopian runners are considered the greatest of all time?
Abebe Bikila was the first Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist, winning the marathon at the 1960 Rome Olympics while running barefoot. Haile Gebrselassie is considered one of the greatest long-distance runners, holding multiple world records and earning two Olympic gold medals in the 10,000 meters.
Who was the first African to lead the World Health Organization?
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus became the first African Director-General of the World Health Organization in 2017. He had previously been Ethiopia's Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs.