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The total population of Uganda has increased from 4.8
million in 1948 to 29.6 in July 2008, and is likely to reach
103.2 million by 2050 (MFPED 2007, UBOS 2008). The
population growth rate is one of the highest in the world,
at 3.2 per cent. This is significant as there are six times
as many people trying to survive on the same amount of
natural resources as there were 60 years ago. Already, the
government has been unable to keep up with demands
Population growth
Population growth rate
on infrastructure such as land, roads, with water supply,
energy grids, the built environment, and services such
as education and health. The result is that the pressures
on rural lands, forests, water and biological resources is
increasing dramatically to meet the needs of the growing
population. There are regional differences in population
growth.
Population growth by region
Source
: NEMA (2008) SOER
Region 1991 Census
1996 (a)
1998 (a)
2000 (a)
2015
Central
4,843,594
5,627,800 5,906,500 6,185,400 8,438,400
Eastern
4,128,469
4,983,100 5,307,300 5,631,600 8,547,400
Northern
3,151,955
3,763,600 3,992,200 4,220,700 6,230,100
Western
4,547,705
5,473,100 5,823,000 6,172,600 9,300,700
Uganda
16,671,705
19,847,600 21,029,000 22,210,300 32,516,600
Source : MFPED: Statistical Abstract, (1998)
NEMA (1998): State of Environment Report for Uganda (1998)
Projected population
165
Population size (million) and Population growth rate (%)
Population size (million) and Population growth rate (%)
1948 1959 1969 1980 1991 2002 2008
Population (m)
Population growth rate (%)
Central Eastern Northern Western Uganda
Region
Population (m)
Population growth rate (%)