Attempted suicide is one of the major risk factors for completed suicide, is associated with psychiatric disorders, and is also a potentially fatal event. We describe here a study of suicide attempts and ideation in a representative sample of 10,203 adults in Addis Ababa. The study was conducted between January and March 1994. The prevalence of current suicidal ideation was 2.7%. Lifetime prevalence of suicidal attempt was 0.9%. Most of the attempts (66%) occurred when subjects were under 25 years of age. Hanging was the preferred method for men and poisonings for women. There were no significant associations between suicide attempt and sex, ethnicity or religion. Current suicidal ideation was more common in men than women, odds ratio (95% confidence interval), OR (95% CI): 0.67 (0.48, 0.93). There was a statistically significant trend of decreasing risk of ideation with increasing age and educational attainment. There was a 68% decrease in the risk of ideation in the 60 years of age and above group compared to the 15-24 year group: OR (95% CI): 0.32 (0.16, 0.62). Marital status, ethnicity, and religion were not associated with suicidal ideation.