Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the major crop for large numbers of people living in the cooler semi-arid areas of the world. The crop grow in the high lands of Ethiopia that ranges 2000-3000 m.a.s.l and covers approximately about 6.42 % the shares of total area covered. Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) is the most widely distributed and most destructive virus on cereal crops in the world. The virus is transmitted by several species of aphids in a persistent manner including Rhopalosiphum padi, which is the most efficient once. There are also species of aphids such as Schizaphis graminum, Macrosiphum avenae, R.maidis were also reported as vectoring the virus. It affects a wide variety of gramineous hosts, including barley, oats, wheat, rye, and many lawn, weed, pasture and range grasses. Barley yellow dwarf affects plants by causing stunting growth, reduced tillering, suppressed heading, sterility and failure to fill the kernels. Five BYDV causing strains of virus were identified in Ethiopia although their distribution varies from area to area these are (BYDV-SGV, BYDV-PAV, BYDV-MAV, BYDV-RPV, and BYDV-RMV). BYDVs can have a serious impact on an important limiting factor for grain production where ever barley is grown and the average yield losses attributable to natural BYDV infection can range between11 and 33%. Barley yellow virus disease on barley in Ethiopia was first reported in1967 regardless of the barley yellow dwarf disease strain(s) or species responsible .This report was based on only symptomology and was not confirmed by any standard laboratory diagnostic methods. The survey conducted on BYDV tries to cover almost all barley growing zones of Ethiopia and the distribution of BYDV was clearly identified under eight barley growing administrative zones of Ethiopia.