The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 31,056, of whom 16,182 were men and 14,874 women; 1,343 or 4.32% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Raytu were the Oromo (91.25%), and the Somali (8.47%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.28% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 89.34%, and 10.35% spoke Somali; the remaining 0.31% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim, with 99.56% of the population reporting they practiced that belief.