Uganda - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Uganda was 11,414,210 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 11,414,210 in 2020 and a minimum value of 298,902 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 298,902
1961 322,443
1962 348,234
1963 376,440
1964 407,029
1965 439,952
1966 475,726
1967 514,224
1968 555,490
1969 598,970
1970 626,790
1971 651,593
1972 676,407
1973 701,541
1974 727,844
1975 755,913
1976 786,039
1977 818,199
1978 852,204
1979 887,953
1980 937,405
1981 1,004,717
1982 1,077,196
1983 1,155,200
1984 1,239,997
1985 1,332,472
1986 1,433,338
1987 1,542,852
1988 1,661,214
1989 1,787,778
1990 1,922,173
1991 2,056,398
1992 2,188,421
1993 2,326,622
1994 2,471,224
1995 2,622,274
1996 2,779,697
1997 2,943,834
1998 3,116,698
1999 3,300,326
2000 3,496,913
2001 3,707,368
2002 3,932,636
2003 4,172,736
2004 4,427,392
2005 4,695,306
2006 4,978,580
2007 5,277,759
2008 5,594,570
2009 5,929,787
2010 6,285,551
2011 6,661,208
2012 7,058,269
2013 7,480,857
2014 7,937,455
2015 8,432,534
2016 8,970,229
2017 9,549,002
2018 10,158,400
2019 10,784,510
2020 11,414,210

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization