The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 170,216, of whom 83,809 were men and 86,407 women; 14,885 or 8.74% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Cheliya were the Oromo (96.19%), and the Amhara (3.14%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.67% of the population. The Oromo language was spoken as a first language by 97%, and 2.76% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.24% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, with 68.2% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 15.8% of the population said they were Protestant, 11.67% practiced traditional beliefs, and 3.99% were Muslim.