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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Uganda was 50,015,092 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Uganda's population is 53,170,946 people compared to 22,697,916 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 +3.21% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Uganda has increased from 28.8M people to 53.2M (84.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Uganda vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Uganda
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Uganda Zambia
2100 122,497,526 65,217,429
2099 122,436,109 64,871,545
2098 122,364,302 64,515,891
2097 122,266,255 64,148,736
2096 122,146,810 63,777,313
2095 121,976,411 63,393,169
2094 121,799,752 62,992,652
2093 121,584,860 62,590,327
2092 121,336,796 62,175,930
2091 121,070,447 61,750,591
2090 120,767,412 61,321,399
2089 120,427,771 60,880,148
2088 120,064,594 60,434,676
2087 119,668,549 59,970,107
2086 119,256,686 59,499,234
2085 118,815,763 59,023,040
2084 118,339,179 58,535,857
2083 117,821,938 58,040,512
2082 117,274,958 57,538,672
2081 116,707,394 57,027,491
2080 116,096,095 56,506,421
2079 115,474,153 55,983,242
2078 114,805,376 55,449,777
2077 114,118,687 54,906,771
2076 113,390,189 54,361,075
2075 112,637,851 53,806,856
2074 111,863,410 53,246,777
2073 111,070,771 52,677,348
2072 110,240,940 52,101,139
2071 109,392,890 51,519,691
2070 108,505,633 50,931,614
2069 107,607,659 50,334,700
2068 106,677,578 49,737,479
2067 105,722,829 49,135,488
2066 104,739,111 48,530,443
2065 103,737,893 47,918,592
2064 102,701,560 47,299,740
2063 101,646,533 46,677,439
2062 100,561,859 46,048,819
2061 99,450,764 45,416,657
2060 98,334,788 44,777,347
2059 97,187,498 44,137,306
2058 96,014,439 43,494,451
2057 94,821,765 42,851,923
2056 93,613,209 42,206,898
2055 92,385,049 41,558,284
2054 91,132,827 40,906,492
2053 89,857,705 40,255,629
2052 88,568,311 39,603,888
2051 87,270,603 38,949,958
2050 85,957,376 38,294,607
2049 84,632,277 37,634,194
2048 83,284,965 36,971,309
2047 81,928,165 36,309,749
2046 80,569,225 35,645,868
2045 79,208,662 34,981,812
2044 77,834,944 34,316,981
2043 76,453,982 33,652,420
2042 75,075,287 32,990,657
2041 73,701,695 32,329,447
2040 72,333,375 31,664,262
2039 70,963,211 31,001,305
2038 69,580,447 30,335,662
2037 68,186,136 29,668,561
2036 66,804,746 29,000,264
2035 65,411,934 28,333,498
2034 64,023,352 27,671,195
2033 62,634,483 27,011,974
2032 61,235,174 26,356,580
2031 59,825,075 25,702,812
2030 58,415,479 25,055,216
2029 57,006,283 24,414,405
2028 55,596,520 23,780,809
2027 54,191,271 23,151,479
2026 52,792,624 22,529,742
2025 51,400,003 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 14,371,794 people (a 37% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% 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 61.7% to 85,957,376 people with a rank change from 30th to 20th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 2.77% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Uganda grew by 2.79%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Uganda Zambia
Current population
53170946
22697916
Population rank 30/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.64% 0.27%
One net population change
23.2 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
18.4 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.23 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +3,722 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +1,358,491 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.79% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 21/197
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 - -117,924 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.5% of the population change in Uganda is from natural causes (a gain of 13,419,712 people) and 0.53% is from migration (a gain of 71,457 people). In Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 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 101K
Entebbe 70K
Tororo 41.9K
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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