In the 1994 Census this woreda had a population of 137,372, of whom 68,803 were men and 68,569 women; 11,579 or 8.43% of its population were urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Yirgachefe were the Gedeo (81.34%), the Oromo (10.89%), the Amhara (3.48%), the Gurage (2.2%), and the Silte (0.73%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.36% of the population.
The 1994 census data provides insights into the ethnic makeup and urbanization trends within Yirgachefe woreda. It reveals that Gedeo is the dominant ethnic group, followed by Oromo, Amhara, Gurage, and Silte. The urban population represents a significant portion of the total population.