Culture and Society
The colonial boundaries created by Britain to define the nation of Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. There are ten major ethnic groups within the country. The Baganda comprise 16.9% of the population, the Banyankole 9.5%, the Basoga 8.4%, the Bakiga 6.9%, the Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6.1%, the Acholi 4.7%, the Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Bunyoro 2.7% and smaller ethnic groups make up the remaining 29.6% of the population.
The majority of Ugandans practice some form of Christianity or Islam. It is very rare to hear a Ugandan describe himself or herself as "agnostic" or "atheist". Based on the 2002 census, 41.9% of the population are Roman Catholics, 35.9% are Anglican, 4.6% are Pentecostal, 1.5% are Seventh-Day Adventists, 12.1% practice Islam, 3.1% practice other religions and 0.9% of the population have no religious affiliation.
As of July 2013, it is estimated that 34,758,809 people live in Uganda, a country which is comparable to the state of Oregon in terms of land. Uganda has a very young population, 70.1% of people are 24 years old or younger, 25.5% of people are between 25 and 54 years old, 2.3% are between the ages of 55 and 64 and only 2.1% of the population is older than 65. Uganda's population growth rate, 3.32%, is one of the highest in the world, and the country does not have the resources to sustain the population if it continues to grow at this rate.
The government defines literacy as having the ability to read and write (for people over the age of 15). By this definition, 73.2% of the total population is literate, with 82.6% of males age 15 and over having the ability to read and write and 64.6% of females age 15 and over being able to read and write. The country has a physician density of 1 physician per 8547 people and a hospital bed density of 1 bed per 2000 people. Throughout its history, Uganda has suffered from "brain drain", a condition where professionals such as doctors, nurses, engineers and highly skilled teachers emigrate to countries such as Rwanda or South Africa, or settle in Europe or the United States where they are paid higher wages. The Ugandan government's inability to retain its skilled professionals has negatively impacted the services the public receives, especially in terms of education and healthcare.
Over the years, Uganda has become home to refugees from various countries. Tens of thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, Sudan and Somalia have settled in Uganda. However, they have very few resources at their disposal and often times cannot afford to put their children in school or meet their basic needs. The government, which does not adequately meet the needs of its own citizens, is of little help to the refugees.
The majority of Ugandans practice some form of Christianity or Islam. It is very rare to hear a Ugandan describe himself or herself as "agnostic" or "atheist". Based on the 2002 census, 41.9% of the population are Roman Catholics, 35.9% are Anglican, 4.6% are Pentecostal, 1.5% are Seventh-Day Adventists, 12.1% practice Islam, 3.1% practice other religions and 0.9% of the population have no religious affiliation.
As of July 2013, it is estimated that 34,758,809 people live in Uganda, a country which is comparable to the state of Oregon in terms of land. Uganda has a very young population, 70.1% of people are 24 years old or younger, 25.5% of people are between 25 and 54 years old, 2.3% are between the ages of 55 and 64 and only 2.1% of the population is older than 65. Uganda's population growth rate, 3.32%, is one of the highest in the world, and the country does not have the resources to sustain the population if it continues to grow at this rate.
The government defines literacy as having the ability to read and write (for people over the age of 15). By this definition, 73.2% of the total population is literate, with 82.6% of males age 15 and over having the ability to read and write and 64.6% of females age 15 and over being able to read and write. The country has a physician density of 1 physician per 8547 people and a hospital bed density of 1 bed per 2000 people. Throughout its history, Uganda has suffered from "brain drain", a condition where professionals such as doctors, nurses, engineers and highly skilled teachers emigrate to countries such as Rwanda or South Africa, or settle in Europe or the United States where they are paid higher wages. The Ugandan government's inability to retain its skilled professionals has negatively impacted the services the public receives, especially in terms of education and healthcare.
Over the years, Uganda has become home to refugees from various countries. Tens of thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, Sudan and Somalia have settled in Uganda. However, they have very few resources at their disposal and often times cannot afford to put their children in school or meet their basic needs. The government, which does not adequately meet the needs of its own citizens, is of little help to the refugees.