This paper describes a study of suicide attempts & ideation in a representative sample of 10,203 adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study was conducted between January-March 1994. The prevalence of current ideation was 2.7%. Lifetime prevalence of suicide attempt was 0.9%. Most of the attempts occurred when subjects were under 25 years of age. Current suicidal ideation was more common in men & women. There was a statistically significant trend of decreasing risk of ideation with increasing age & educational attainment. Marital status, ethnicity, & religion were not associated with suicidal ideation. (22 refs.)