Fertility is one of the elements in population dynamics that has a significant contribution towards changing population size and structure over time. Fertility preference, defined as desired family size or the ideal number of children is known to have impacts on the total fertility rate and hence on the population size and structure. The main objective of this study was to identify the most important factors affecting desired number of children among Ethiopian women at reproductive age. The study was based on the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data (EDHS). Count regression models were used to model the desired number of children among women in Ethiopia. Results showed that the mean number of children per women was high among aged mothers, less educated mothers, mothers from rural areas, women in the poorest economic level and woman having no work. The highest average desired number of children was recorded in Somali region (10.58) and the lowest in Addis Ababa city administration (3.56). The Negative Binomial regression model was found to be the most appropriate model for the data. The random intercept Negative Binomial regression model showed that Women’s age, Household head, Contraception using, Wealth Index, Women’s education, Religion, Marital status, Husband’s work, Family size and Age at first marriage were significant predictors of the desired number of children by women at reproductive age. The study also showed that there was a significant regional variation in desired number of children among Ethiopian women. Key words: Fertility rate, Desire number of children, statistical weight, EDHS, Count Regression models, multilevel analysis.