Share of population living in rural areas in Uganda
Uganda: Share of population living in rural areas was 30.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Uganda, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in rural areas in Uganda stood at 30.4%. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Uganda peaked at 85.6% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 30.4%, in 2020.
That places Uganda 92nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 85.6% | — |
| 1955 | 83.5% | -2.4% |
| 1960 | 81.1% | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 78.5% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 75.4% | -3.9% |
| 1975 | 72.5% | -3.8% |
| 1980 | 70.9% | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 67.8% | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 63.0% | -7.0% |
| 1995 | 58.4% | -7.3% |
| 2000 | 53.5% | -8.4% |
| 2005 | 49.4% | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 44.4% | -10.1% |
| 2015 | 38.2% | -13.9% |
| 2020 | 30.4% | -20.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 84.5% | 83.5% | 85.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 79.8% | 78.5% | 81.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 74.0% | 72.5% | 75.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 69.3% | 67.8% | 70.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 60.7% | 58.4% | 63.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 51.5% | 49.4% | 53.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 41.3% | 38.2% | 44.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.4% | 30.4% | 30.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More population data for Uganda
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.0339 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2177 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 87,622 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.53 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8617 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.0% (2100)
- Population density 602.61 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.91 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in rural areas in Uganda?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Uganda was 30.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 85.6% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.4% in 2020.
- How does Uganda rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Uganda ranks 92nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.