Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Uganda
Uganda: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 68.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
68.1%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
26th
of 218 countries
All-time high
95.6%
in 1960
All-time low
68.1%
in 2025
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Rural population in Uganda, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Uganda is 68.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Uganda peaked at 95.6% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 68.1%, in 2025.
That places Uganda 26th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 95.6% | — |
| 1961 | 95.5% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 95.2% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 95.0% | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 94.8% | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 94.6% | -0.2% |
| 1966 | 94.4% | -0.2% |
| 1967 | 94.2% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 94.0% | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 93.9% | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 93.8% | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 93.8% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 93.7% | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 93.7% | -0.0% |
| 1974 | 93.6% | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 93.6% | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 93.5% | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 93.5% | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 93.4% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 93.3% | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 93.2% | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 93.1% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 92.9% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 92.6% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 92.3% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 91.9% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 91.6% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 91.2% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 90.9% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 90.5% | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 90.2% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 90.0% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 89.8% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 89.6% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 89.4% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 89.3% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 89.1% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 89.0% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 88.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 88.6% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 88.4% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 88.1% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 87.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 87.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 86.9% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 86.2% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 85.4% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 84.5% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 83.5% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 82.4% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 81.2% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 79.9% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 78.6% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 77.3% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 75.8% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 75.0% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 74.3% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 73.6% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 72.9% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 72.2% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 71.5% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 70.8% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 70.1% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 69.4% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 68.7% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 68.1% | -1.0% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 68.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 68.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 55.1%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 94.7% | 93.9% | 95.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 93.6% | 93.3% | 93.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 92.0% | 90.5% | 93.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 89.4% | 88.6% | 90.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.1% | 82.4% | 88.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 76.1% | 72.2% | 81.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.7% | 68.1% | 71.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
- 23 Rwanda 69.1% compare
- 24 Solomon Islands 68.7% compare
- 25 Saint Kitts and Nevis 68.1% compare
- 27 Kenya 67.8% compare
- 28 Mali 67.8% compare
- 29 Channel Islands 67.4% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Uganda
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1771 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2805 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 22.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2613 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 315.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Uganda?
- Rural population in Uganda was 68.1% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 95.6% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.1% in 2025.
- How does Uganda rank for rural population?
- Uganda ranks 26th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.