Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Uganda
Uganda: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 9.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Uganda, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 9.5% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Uganda peaked at 9.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Uganda 119th out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 5.7% | — |
| 1995 | 6.4% | +11.2% |
| 2000 | 7.1% | +11.2% |
| 2005 | 7.6% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | +15.2% |
| 2015 | 9.3% | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 9.5% | +2.7% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 9.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 12.2%, 78% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 9.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.2%, 78% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 5.7% | 6.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.3% | 7.1% | 7.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.0% | 8.7% | 9.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 9.5% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More reference data data for Uganda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4214 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 29.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 42.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.29 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Uganda?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Uganda was 9.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Uganda rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Uganda ranks 119th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.