Ethiopian Atlas
Regional state

Benishangul-Gumuz

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile · photo: Prime Minister Office Ethiopia, Public domain (source)

Benishangul-Gumuz is a regional state of Ethiopia, covering 50,218 km² — 4.4% of the national territory, 5th of the 12 regional states by area. Its administrative centre is Assosa. Its projected 2022 population is 1,187,997 — about 24 people per km². It comprises 4 zones and 26 woredas (districts).

Benishangul-Gumuz lies along the Sudanese border where the Ethiopian highlands step down to lowland savanna. The Blue Nile (Abay) crosses the region on its way to Sudan, and since 2011 it has hosted the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa's largest hydroelectric project.

Sources: Britannica — Blue Nile River

Where Benishangul-Gumuz sits in Ethiopia

50,218
km²
4.4%
of national territory
4
zones
26
woredas
1,187,997
people (2022 proj.)
24
per km²
5th
by area of 12 states
Administrative centreAssosa
P-codeET06
Boundary valid from2025-01-01

Zones

AssosaKamashiMao-komo SpecialMetekel

View Benishangul-Gumuz on the map →

Every figure on this page is computed from the OCHA COD-AB Ethiopia dataset (April 2026 release, CC BY 3.0 IGO). Richer geographic and historical profiles, with cited sources, arrive in Phase 2.