Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 143,929, of whom 70,585 are men and 73,344 are women; 6,799 or 4.72% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 14.1%. With an estimated area of 8,332.84 square kilometers, Sanja has an estimated population density of 17.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 60.23.[1]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 105,751 in 20,428 households, of whom 54,405 were men and 51,346 women; 3,891 or 3.68% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Sanja were the Amhara (96.89%), and the Tigrayan (2.68%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.43% of the population. Amharic was spoken as a first language by 96.61%, and 3.21% spoke Tigrinya; the remaining 0.18% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 98.66% embracing that faith, while 1.25% of the population said they were Muslim.[2]
