Uganda Population

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a median age in the mid-teens and a fertility rate that, although declining, stays high. It is also one of Africa's largest refugee hosts, adding to an already fast-growing population. The country's central demographic question is whether it can educate and employ its enormous coming generation of young people.

With roughly 52.1 million people as of 2026, Uganda ranks 30th in the world by population. A country of Eastern Africa, its trajectory to 2100 is governed by how births, deaths and migration play out. Population density stands at about 264 people for every square kilometre of land.

Growth continues for Uganda until around 2100, the year its population is set to crest at about 121 million. From there a slow fall takes it to roughly 121 million by century's end. The 100 million threshold is reached around 2063.

With about 4.16 births per woman, Uganda still has one of the higher fertility rates in the world, driving fast expansion. Emigration adds a further drag, as departures outnumber arrivals year to year.

Half of Uganda is currently younger than about 17, but by 2100 the median age is projected to reach around 40, even as life expectancy improves from about 68 years. For now it remains one of the world's youngest populations, with a large generation about to reach working age. A rising median age means fewer working-age people supporting each retiree over time.

All of this is a projection, not a prediction. The further out it runs the wider the plausible range becomes, which is why Uganda's charts show a low-to-high band around the central line.