Urban and rural population in Uganda
Uganda: Urban and rural population was 16.41 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
16.41 million
Change on year
up 4.9%
World rank
55th
of 236 countries
All-time high
16.41 million
in 2025
All-time low
186,282
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Uganda, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Uganda is 16.41 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.9% on the previous year and up 75.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Uganda peaked at 16.41 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 186,282, in 1950.
That places Uganda 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Uganda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 186,282 | — |
| 1951 | 196,225 | +5.3% |
| 1952 | 207,135 | +5.6% |
| 1953 | 219,056 | +5.8% |
| 1954 | 232,004 | +5.9% |
| 1955 | 245,988 | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 261,011 | +6.1% |
| 1957 | 277,096 | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 294,276 | +6.2% |
| 1959 | 312,623 | +6.2% |
| 1960 | 333,371 | +6.6% |
| 1961 | 357,466 | +7.2% |
| 1962 | 384,619 | +7.6% |
| 1963 | 414,436 | +7.8% |
| 1964 | 446,324 | +7.7% |
| 1965 | 479,554 | +7.4% |
| 1966 | 513,395 | +7.1% |
| 1967 | 547,069 | +6.6% |
| 1968 | 579,679 | +6.0% |
| 1969 | 609,630 | +5.2% |
| 1970 | 636,813 | +4.5% |
| 1971 | 662,101 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 684,652 | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 706,002 | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 728,505 | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 752,444 | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 777,767 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 804,903 | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 834,398 | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 864,715 | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 896,845 | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 937,738 | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 991,415 | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 1.06 million | +6.5% |
| 1984 | 1.13 million | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 1.21 million | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 1.31 million | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 1.40 million | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 1.51 million | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 1.61 million | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 1.72 million | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 1.82 million | +5.9% |
| 1992 | 1.92 million | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 2.02 million | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 2.13 million | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 2.22 million | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 2.31 million | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 2.41 million | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 2.53 million | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 2.66 million | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 2.79 million | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 2.95 million | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 3.12 million | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 3.32 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 3.56 million | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 3.86 million | +8.2% |
| 2006 | 4.20 million | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 4.59 million | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 5.04 million | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 5.54 million | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 6.09 million | +9.9% |
| 2011 | 6.69 million | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 7.34 million | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 8.03 million | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 8.81 million | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 9.37 million | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 9.97 million | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 10.61 million | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 11.28 million | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 11.97 million | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 12.69 million | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 13.42 million | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 14.16 million | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 14.89 million | +5.2% |
| 2024 | 15.64 million | +5.0% |
| 2025 | 16.41 million | +4.9% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 16.41 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 2.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 16.41 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 3.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 243,170 | 186,282 | 312,623 | 10 |
| 1960s | 466,554 | 333,371 | 609,630 | 10 |
| 1970s | 745,230 | 636,813 | 864,715 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.21 million | 896,845 | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.17 million | 1.72 million | 2.66 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.90 million | 2.79 million | 5.54 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.02 million | 6.09 million | 11.97 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.54 million | 12.69 million | 16.41 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 52 North Korea 17.06 million compare
- 53 Myanmar 16.78 million compare
- 54 Cameroon 16.63 million compare
- 56 Yemen 15.47 million compare
- 57 Mozambique 13.26 million compare
- 58 Kazakhstan 13.00 million compare
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)
- Population growth rate 0.017 (2100)
- Population density 602.61 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Uganda?
- Urban and rural population in Uganda was 16.41 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 16.41 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 186,282 in 1950.
- How does Uganda rank for urban and rural population?
- Uganda ranks 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).