Census Analytical Report - Uganda Bureau of Statistics

Analytical ReportCHAPTER 2: POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTIONTo formulate present and future development programmes, a country needs to knowthe size, quality and growth of its population. Population growth should be in tandemwith economic growth and development if a country is to develop fast enough.Population censuses are the main sources of demographic data in general andinformation on population size, distribution and growth in particular. Other sourcesinclude the various surveys, the Birth and Death Registration System (BDR) andAdministrative records. Although the BDR system is in operation in some of thedistricts, it does not generate reliable estimates.2.1 Total PopulationThe Population of Uganda was 24.2 million in 2002 having increased from 2.5 millionin 1911 reflecting nearly a 10-fold increase over a 90-year period. Between 1948 and2002 the population increased from 5.0 million to 24.2 million an increase of about 5times. Since the last census the population has grown by about 7.5 million. This is thehighest inter-censal increase ever registered in Uganda.Figure 2.1: Population of Uganda, 1948 – 200230Population (Millions)2520151055.06.59.512.616.724.201948 1959 1969 1980 1991 2002Census Year2.2 Spatial Distribution of the PopulationThe Central region had the largest share of the national population at 27 percent in2002 but decreased from 29 percent in 1991 (Figure 2.2). Western region alsoexperienced a decrease in share of the national population between 1991 and 2002.On the other hand the Northern region still had the lowest share of the populationdespite the considerable percentage gain between 1991 and 2002 censuses.9