Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Uganda
Uganda: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 249.43 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population density in Uganda, 1961–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
In 2024, population density in Uganda stood at 249.43 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Uganda peaked at 249.43 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 39.35 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Uganda ranks 55th of 216 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Uganda, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 39.35 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 40.5 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 41.71 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 42.97 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 44.29 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 45.66 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 47.09 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 48.59 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 50.12 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 51.66 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 53.14 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 54.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 55.77 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 57.18 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 58.68 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 60.24 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 61.86 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 63.52 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 65.07 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 66.44 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 67.85 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 69.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 71.18 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 73.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 75.19 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 77.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 79.85 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 82.43 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 85.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 87.93 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 90.87 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 94.01 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 97.32 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 100.64 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 103.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 106.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 109.38 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 112.69 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 116.4 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 120.11 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 123.85 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 127.79 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 131.89 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 135.9 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 139.95 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 144.11 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 148.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 152.84 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 157.41 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 161.53 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 166.34 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 171.24 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 176.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 181.51 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 187.17 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 193.49 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 200.37 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 207.29 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 214.44 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 221.71 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 228.96 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 235.95 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 242.65 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 249.43 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 249.43 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for low income countries, which is 65.39 people per sq. km of land area, 3.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 249.43 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.86 people per sq. km of land area, 3.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 44.47 people per sq. km of land area | 39.35 people per sq. km of land area | 50.12 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 58.16 people per sq. km of land area | 51.66 people per sq. km of land area | 65.07 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 74.8 people per sq. km of land area | 66.44 people per sq. km of land area | 85.13 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 101.89 people per sq. km of land area | 87.93 people per sq. km of land area | 116.4 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 138.22 people per sq. km of land area | 120.11 people per sq. km of land area | 157.41 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 185.96 people per sq. km of land area | 161.53 people per sq. km of land area | 214.44 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 235.74 people per sq. km of land area | 221.71 people per sq. km of land area | 249.43 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 52 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 258.65 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 53 Nigeria 255.48 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 54 Liechtenstein 252.81 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 56 Qatar 248.72 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 57 Sao Tome and Principe 245.35 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 58 Germany 239.01 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Uganda
- Population in the largest city 26.0% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 31.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.083 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 4.27 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 5.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 19.18 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 4.27 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.072 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 54.77 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Uganda?
- Population density in Uganda was 249.43 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 249.43 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.35 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Uganda rank for population density?
- Uganda ranks 55th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.