Legal information, not legal advice. Every jurisdiction page carries its verification status and sources.

Ethiopia

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Civil law with customary and religious personal statusFederal parliamentary republicReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Addis Ababa
Population
126,500,000
Languages
Amharic, Afaan Oromo
Currency
ETB

Ethiopia · Courts

Court structure of Ethiopia

Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.

The hierarchy, top to bottom

Final appellate — Federal Supreme Court
In Addis Ababa; its Cassation Division issues binding interpretations.
Appellate — Federal High Court
Appeals from first-instance courts and original jurisdiction in serious matters.
First instance — Federal First Instance Courts
General federal jurisdiction; regional courts exercise it where these are absent.
Regional — Regional supreme, high and woreda courts
Each regional state runs a three-tier system under its own constitution.
Specialist — Sharia courts and social courts
Muslim personal status by consent of both parties; kebele social courts for small claims.

Every court in the hierarchy

Found something out of date on Ethiopia · Courts?

Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.

Report a correction