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Background Improving patient safety in healthcare settings requires a culture of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, perceptions and knowledge. Despite the fact that medical errors are inevitable, patient safety culture (PSC) initiatives may be able to lessen their frequency and effects. To improve patient safety, it is essential to investigate how healthcare professionals see hospital PSC. In Ethiopia, no evidence has been studied nationally. In order to assess the pooled status of PSC and its associated factors at Ethiopian public hospitals, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed throughout our study. Pub-Med, CINAHL, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar and repository databases were used for the search. Stata V.17 was used to analyse the data using the random-effects model. Forest plots were used to present the pooled results.Results A total of 6583 participants were involved in 16 studies that were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall PSC for healthcare professionals working in Ethiopian public hospitals was found to be 47.78% (95% CI 44.72 to 50.84; I 2=84.56%). ‘Teamwork within units’ was the only PSC dimension with a satisfactory percentage of positive responses (75.53%; 95% CI 73.57 to 77.49). Compared with other hospital settings (48.77%), PSC at referral hospitals was lower (43.49%). A positive response rate to overall PSC was significantly predicted by being a nurse or midwife (OR=3.06; 95% CI 1.27 to 7.41), participating in patient safety training (OR=3.23; 95% CI 2.33 to 4.48), having a BSc degree or higher (OR=2.62; 95% CI 1.56 to 4.38), working in medical-surgical units (OR=4.32; 95% CI 2.71 to 6.90) and having more work experience (OR=5.69; 95% CI 2.52 to 12.87).Conclusion The pooled status of PSC among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia is low. Compared with other hospital settings, the PSC was lower in referral hospitals. A higher positive response rate to the overall PSC was predicted by professional type, educational attainment, patient safety training, working units and longer work experiences. In order to promote patient safety, the Ministry of Health, hospital managers and policymakers must work collaboratively by launching initiatives to strengthen a positive PSC.