The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 91,785, of whom 47,642 were men and 44,143 women; 17,598 or 19.17% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Odo Shakiso were the Oromo (79.84%), the Amhara (9.35%), the Gedeo (5.38%), and the Soddo Gurage (1.04%); all other ethnic groups made up 4.39% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 75.76%, 16.61% spoke Amharic, and 4.99% spoke Gedeo; the remaining 2.64% spoke all other primary languages reported. The plurality of the inhabitants were Protestant, with 38.31% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 25.96% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 17.12% practiced traditional beliefs, 6.78% were Catholic, and 6.5% were Muslim.