IntroductionClimate resilience is often assessed by using aggregate household indices that mask social and spatial inequalities. While the Resilience Index Measurement and Analysis II (RIMA-II) framework has been widely applied in developing-country contexts, limited attention has been paid to how resilience varies across gender, wealth, and agroecological groups. This study addresses this gap in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia, a region exposed to climatic variability and environmental stress.MethodsUsing data from 204 smallholder households, a household Resilience Capacity Index was constructed from five RIMA-II pillars comprising 34 indicators. Resilience differences and determinants were examined using non-parametric tests, robust regression, quantile regression, mediation analysis, and intersectional analysis.ResultsResults reveal three key patterns. First, female-headed households exhibited significantly lower resilience than male-headed households due to deficits in productive assets, adaptive capacity, and income opportunities, with disparities concentrated among the least resilient households. Second, differences between lowland and midland households were driven by unequal access to services and adaptive capacity resources rather than by asset ownership or income levels. Third, resilience pathways were wealth-differentiated: access to early-warning information, livestock holdings, and technology use were most strongly associated with resilience among poorer households, whereas land- and crop-based agricultural assets were the dominant correlates among medium-wealth and wealthier households. Intersectional analysis identified female-headed households in lowland areas with medium wealth status as the most disadvantaged subgroup.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that climate resilience is not distributed uniformly across rural populations and that aggregate resilience metrics can obscure inequalities in resilience capacities and pathways. By disaggregating resilience outcomes within the RIMA-II framework, this study advances understanding of how social and ecological factors shape climate resilience in smallholder systems. The results highlight the need for differentiated, wealth-calibrated resilience-building strategies, including gender-responsive asset support, improved service delivery in lowland areas, and wealth-sensitive social protection and livelihood interventions.