Population density in Uganda
Uganda: Population density was 242.65 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
242.65 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
54th
of 215 countries
All-time high
242.65 people per sq. km of land area
in 2023
All-time low
39.35 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Uganda, 1961–2023
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 2023, population density in Uganda stood at 242.65 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Uganda peaked at 242.65 people per sq. km of land area in 2023 and was at its lowest, 39.35 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Uganda ranks 54th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density 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% |
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 | 232.32 people per sq. km of land area | 221.71 people per sq. km of land area | 242.65 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 51 Luxembourg 258.86 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 52 Nigeria 250.21 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 53 Liechtenstein 249.04 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 55 Sao Tome and Principe 240.49 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 56 Germany 238.35 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 57 American Samoa 237.6 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 242.65 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, 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 242.65 people per sq. km of land area in 2023.
- 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 54th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population density rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.7%. 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.