 EPRDF forces captured Maychew and Korem 8 September 1989, afterwards continuing their advance south along the main highway.Based on the 2007 national census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this town has a total population of 16,856, of whom 7,532 are men and 9,324 women.92.12% of the population said they were Orthodox Christians, and 7.65% were Muslim.