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Population in Uganda compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Uganda was 51,384,894 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Uganda's population is 53,495,325 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Uganda's population is 2.34 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Uganda is ranked the 30th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.64% for Uganda vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Uganda has had an average growth rate of +3.19% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Uganda has increased from 28.8M people to 53.5M (85.8% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Uganda vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Uganda
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Uganda Zambia
2100 122,461,518 65,204,593
2099 122,400,118 64,858,778
2098 122,328,333 64,503,193
2097 122,230,315 64,136,110
2096 122,110,905 63,764,760
2095 121,940,556 63,380,692
2094 121,763,948 62,980,254
2093 121,549,120 62,578,008
2092 121,301,128 62,163,693
2091 121,034,858 61,738,437
2090 120,731,912 61,309,330
2089 120,392,371 60,868,166
2088 120,029,300 60,422,781
2087 119,633,372 59,958,303
2086 119,221,630 59,487,524
2085 118,780,837 59,011,423
2084 118,304,392 58,524,337
2083 117,787,304 58,029,088
2082 117,240,484 57,527,347
2081 116,673,088 57,016,267
2080 116,061,969 56,495,299
2079 115,440,209 55,972,223
2078 114,771,629 55,438,864
2077 114,085,142 54,895,964
2076 113,356,858 54,350,375
2075 112,604,741 53,796,265
2074 111,830,528 53,236,297
2073 111,038,122 52,666,980
2072 110,208,535 52,090,884
2071 109,360,734 51,509,551
2070 108,473,738 50,921,590
2069 107,576,028 50,324,793
2068 106,646,220 49,727,689
2067 105,691,752 49,125,817
2066 104,708,323 48,520,891
2065 103,707,399 47,909,160
2064 102,671,371 47,290,430
2063 101,616,654 46,668,252
2062 100,532,299 46,039,755
2061 99,421,530 45,407,718
2060 98,305,883 44,768,534
2059 97,158,930 44,128,619
2058 95,986,215 43,485,891
2057 94,793,892 42,843,489
2056 93,585,691 42,198,591
2055 92,357,892 41,550,105
2054 91,106,039 40,898,440
2053 89,831,291 40,247,706
2052 88,542,276 39,596,094
2051 87,244,950 38,942,292
2050 85,932,109 38,287,070
2049 84,607,399 37,626,787
2048 83,260,483 36,964,032
2047 81,904,082 36,302,603
2046 80,545,542 35,638,852
2045 79,185,378 34,974,927
2044 77,812,065 34,310,227
2043 76,431,508 33,645,797
2042 75,053,218 32,984,164
2041 73,680,031 32,323,084
2040 72,312,112 31,658,029
2039 70,942,351 30,995,204
2038 69,559,994 30,329,691
2037 68,166,092 29,662,721
2036 66,785,108 28,994,556
2035 65,392,706 28,327,922
2034 64,004,533 27,665,749
2033 62,616,072 27,006,658
2032 61,217,174 26,351,393
2031 59,807,490 25,697,754
2030 58,398,308 25,050,285
2029 56,989,526 24,409,600
2028 55,580,177 23,776,128
2027 54,175,341 23,146,922
2026 52,777,106 22,525,308
2025 51,384,894 21,913,874
2024 50,015,092 21,314,956
2023 48,656,601 20,723,965
2022 47,312,719 20,152,938
2021 45,910,930 19,603,607
2020 44,457,152 19,059,395
2019 42,999,637 18,513,839
2018 41,565,831 17,973,569
2017 40,177,388 17,441,320
2016 38,799,152 16,914,423
2015 37,531,446 16,399,089
2014 36,395,539 15,895,315
2013 35,337,042 15,398,997
2012 34,337,438 14,913,629
2011 33,354,543 14,437,796
2010 32,390,802 13,965,594
2009 31,451,151 13,490,389
2008 30,539,553 13,021,324
2007 29,653,430 12,565,085
2006 28,794,003 12,129,553
2005 27,963,289 11,718,819
2004 27,154,515 11,338,198
2003 26,352,124 10,983,595
2002 25,532,870 10,647,949
2001 24,745,676 10,325,185
2000 24,000,150 10,017,631
1999 23,257,281 9,740,005
1998 22,515,806 9,482,408
1997 21,856,046 9,237,063
1996 21,231,550 9,004,053
1995 20,665,667 8,785,763
1994 20,108,801 8,576,269
1993 19,445,161 8,373,921
1992 18,785,032 8,176,680
1991 18,155,901 7,981,650
1990 17,569,897 7,786,169
1989 17,010,698 7,589,216
1988 16,470,483 7,391,440
1987 15,954,170 7,191,282
1986 15,467,579 6,986,471
1985 15,023,681 6,780,953
1984 14,607,677 6,580,490
1983 14,221,881 6,381,038
1982 13,873,631 6,178,637
1981 13,556,452 5,983,289
1980 13,275,741 5,802,833
1979 13,002,163 5,631,728
1978 12,692,113 5,465,374
1977 12,359,669 5,302,480
1976 12,037,294 5,143,842
1975 11,725,240 4,990,086
1974 11,424,846 4,842,746
1973 11,144,236 4,702,693
1972 10,885,796 4,569,309
1971 10,618,206 4,442,525
1970 10,321,603 4,321,718
1969 10,014,858 4,197,116
1968 9,708,632 4,065,593
1967 9,408,924 3,936,343
1966 9,122,864 3,812,003
1965 8,849,203 3,692,086
1964 8,586,363 3,577,017
1963 8,333,663 3,465,907
1962 8,092,231 3,358,099
1961 7,862,217 3,254,086
1960 7,640,973 3,153,729

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/uganda/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Uganda increased by 10,005,149 people (a 34.7% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Uganda gained 14,696,173 people (a 37.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Uganda was ranked 38th most populous country in 2006 and is 30th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Uganda's population will grow by 60.6% to 85,932,109 people with a rank change from 30th to 20th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Uganda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 122M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Uganda
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Uganda Zambia
2100 0.05% 0.53%
2099 0.06% 0.55%
2098 0.08% 0.57%
2097 0.1% 0.58%
2096 0.14% 0.61%
2095 0.15% 0.64%
2094 0.18% 0.64%
2093 0.2% 0.67%
2092 0.22% 0.69%
2091 0.25% 0.7%
2090 0.28% 0.72%
2089 0.3% 0.74%
2088 0.33% 0.77%
2087 0.35% 0.79%
2086 0.37% 0.81%
2085 0.4% 0.83%
2084 0.44% 0.85%
2083 0.47% 0.87%
2082 0.49% 0.9%
2081 0.53% 0.92%
2080 0.54% 0.93%
2079 0.58% 0.96%
2078 0.6% 0.99%
2077 0.64% 1%
2076 0.67% 1.03%
2075 0.69% 1.05%
2074 0.71% 1.08%
2073 0.75% 1.11%
2072 0.78% 1.13%
2071 0.82% 1.15%
2070 0.83% 1.19%
2069 0.87% 1.2%
2068 0.9% 1.23%
2067 0.94% 1.25%
2066 0.97% 1.28%
2065 1.01% 1.31%
2064 1.04% 1.33%
2063 1.08% 1.37%
2062 1.12% 1.39%
2061 1.13% 1.43%
2060 1.18% 1.45%
2059 1.22% 1.48%
2058 1.26% 1.5%
2057 1.29% 1.53%
2056 1.33% 1.56%
2055 1.37% 1.59%
2054 1.42% 1.62%
2053 1.46% 1.65%
2052 1.49% 1.68%
2051 1.53% 1.71%
2050 1.57% 1.75%
2049 1.62% 1.79%
2048 1.66% 1.82%
2047 1.69% 1.86%
2046 1.72% 1.9%
2045 1.76% 1.94%
2044 1.81% 1.97%
2043 1.84% 2.01%
2042 1.86% 2.05%
2041 1.89% 2.1%
2040 1.93% 2.14%
2039 1.99% 2.19%
2038 2.04% 2.25%
2037 2.07% 2.3%
2036 2.13% 2.35%
2035 2.17% 2.39%
2034 2.22% 2.44%
2033 2.29% 2.49%
2032 2.36% 2.54%
2031 2.41% 2.58%
2030 2.47% 2.62%
2029 2.54% 2.66%
2028 2.59% 2.72%
2027 2.65% 2.76%
2026 2.71% 2.79%
2025 2.74% 2.81%
2024 2.79% 2.85%
2023 2.84% 2.83%
2022 3.05% 2.8%
2021 3.27% 2.86%
2020 3.39% 2.95%
2019 3.45% 3.01%
2018 3.46% 3.05%
2017 3.55% 3.12%
2016 3.38% 3.14%
2015 3.12% 3.17%
2014 3% 3.22%
2013 2.91% 3.25%
2012 2.95% 3.3%
2011 2.98% 3.38%
2010 2.99% 3.52%
2009 2.98% 3.6%
2008 2.99% 3.63%
2007 2.98% 3.59%
2006 2.97% 3.5%
2005 2.98% 3.36%
2004 3.04% 3.23%
2003 3.21% 3.15%
2002 3.18% 3.13%
2001 3.11% 3.07%
2000 3.19% 2.85%
1999 3.29% 2.72%
1998 3.02% 2.66%
1997 2.94% 2.59%
1996 2.74% 2.48%
1995 2.77% 2.44%
1994 3.41% 2.42%
1993 3.51% 2.41%
1992 3.47% 2.44%
1991 3.34% 2.51%
1990 3.29% 2.6%
1989 3.28% 2.68%
1988 3.24% 2.78%
1987 3.15% 2.93%
1986 2.95% 3.03%
1985 2.85% 3.05%
1984 2.71% 3.13%
1983 2.51% 3.28%
1982 2.34% 3.26%
1981 2.11% 3.11%
1980 2.1% 3.04%
1979 2.44% 3.04%
1978 2.69% 3.07%
1977 2.68% 3.08%
1976 2.66% 3.08%
1975 2.63% 3.04%
1974 2.52% 2.98%
1973 2.37% 2.92%
1972 2.52% 2.85%
1971 2.87% 2.8%
1970 3.06% 2.97%
1969 3.15% 3.24%
1968 3.19% 3.28%
1967 3.14% 3.26%
1966 3.09% 3.25%
1965 3.06% 3.22%
1964 3.03% 3.21%
1963 2.98% 3.21%
1962 2.93% 3.2%
1961 2.9% 3.18%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/uganda/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Uganda grew by 2.74%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Uganda Zambia
Current population
53495325
22844606
Population rank 30/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.64% 0.27%
One net population change
23.1 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
18.3 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
2.2 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,753 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +1,369,802 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +2.74% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 21/197 19/197
One migration net change every
4.43 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -119,059 +6,562
Net migration rank 183/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 2,057,759 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 37/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.1% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 106/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Uganda
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Uganda Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -119,059 - 6,562
2024 1,483,898 -117,924 587,419 7,381
2023 1,477,166 -126,181 577,660 9,521
2022 1,455,576 -118,843 563,456 -8,566
2021 1,423,377 43,464 535,629 8,143
2020 1,397,288 43,464 536,484 8,156
2019 1,367,044 107,210 528,089 18,385
2018 1,332,600 60,724 515,644 18,431
2017 1,290,658 92,879 504,630 25,789
2016 1,249,565 123,379 497,521 25,860
2015 1,224,839 -62,366 491,021 16,261
2014 1,201,599 -92,273 483,663 16,574
2013 1,184,250 -176,579 476,846 15,542
2012 1,167,473 -175,936 469,406 8,958
2011 1,147,263 -173,005 459,743 13,569
2010 1,121,564 -168,322 448,337 22,761
2009 1,090,600 -164,553 434,458 44,867
2008 1,055,935 -158,790 419,560 39,249
2007 1,029,893 -154,773 403,729 49,945
2006 999,958 -156,232 387,891 29,517
2005 969,096 -151,386 368,756 35,316
2004 938,623 -138,770 349,352 7,819
2003 901,374 -96,429 331,189 20,845
2002 868,756 -35,149 316,041 3,206
2001 836,751 -95,956 302,682 23,582
2000 803,069 -52,824 293,186 -4,338
1999 775,166 -39,695 283,297 -16,888
1998 741,175 6,277 275,568 -26,796
1997 727,523 -155,461 268,198 -26,276
1996 699,707 -22,795 262,468 -38,358
1995 697,218 -242,378 257,897 -45,423
1994 675,092 -16,198 252,023 -45,504
1993 650,032 18,349 245,917 -47,739
1992 627,139 24,723 239,953 -43,656
1991 602,740 3,643 237,957 -44,203
1990 587,291 -21,688 235,835 -38,619
1989 565,367 -12,576 233,429 -36,736
1988 547,759 -20,113 230,118 -31,270
1987 527,397 -22,415 227,813 -26,338
1986 487,693 -19,485 224,768 -16,610
1985 462,534 -42,942 221,351 -18,474
1984 421,241 -8,818 216,695 -18,652
1983 404,940 -45,776 212,712 -11,849
1982 390,820 -53,497 207,621 -3,676
1981 380,028 -83,010 202,822 -16,072
1980 370,287 -105,900 198,817 -24,664
1979 381,626 -98,863 197,578 -29,515
1978 371,930 -34,606 194,933 -30,284
1977 365,216 -37,671 191,557 -30,423
1976 359,458 -42,259 186,762 -30,612
1975 354,278 -47,359 182,258 -30,886
1974 345,773 -51,910 174,484 -31,178
1973 340,780 -73,439 168,258 -31,472
1972 335,935 -86,409 161,648 -31,672
1971 328,294 -42,642 155,249 -31,651
1970 333,202 -25,646 149,380 -31,370
1969 320,486 -14,548 142,660 -11,469
1968 309,725 -3,214 137,315 -5,447
1967 296,692 -3,773 131,938 -5,298
1966 282,225 -3,021 127,164 -5,129
1965 271,830 -3,716 122,814 -5,023
1964 260,733 -3,169 117,197 -4,851
1963 250,885 -3,058 114,555 -4,676
1962 241,513 -6,470 110,173 -4,428
1961 232,894 -7,893 106,318 -4,043
1960 225,080 -7,586 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/uganda/zambia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.7% of the population change in Uganda is from natural causes (a gain of 13,702,011 people) and 0.33% is from migration (a gain of 45,806 people). In Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 2,057,759 residents or 4.1% of the population were not native-born in Uganda, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Uganda
City Population
Kampala 1.68M
Mbale 586K
Arua 385K
Kira Town 317K
Jinja 279K
Gulu 177K
Kasese 134K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 42.9K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/uganda/zambia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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