Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this woreda has a total population of 118,097, an increase of -37.34% over the 1994 census, of whom 58,529 are men and 59,568 women; 8,728 or 7.39% are urban inhabitants. With an area of 746.43 square kilometers, Machakel has a population density of 158.22, which is greater than the Zone average of 153.8 persons per square kilometer. A total of 27,967 households were counted in this woreda, resulting in an average of 4.22 persons to a household, and 27,143 housing units. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.87% reporting that as their religion, while 1.1% of the population said they were Muslim.[2]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 188,472 in 38,915 households, of whom 94,269 were men and 94,203 were women; 9,439 or 5.01% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Machakel was the Amhara (99.92%). The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.77% reporting that as their religion, while 1.15% were Muslim.[3]