Description:
Uganda has one of the youngest and most
rapidly growing populations in the world. The most important
demographic issue for Uganda is related to the age structure
rather than the overall size of its population. A very young
population represents a major challenge for Uganda in the
short and medium term. In order to change its population age
structure faster, Uganda needs to accelerate the demographic
transition, namely the shift from high levels of mortality
and fertility to low levels of mortality and fertility. Once
mortality (especially infant and child) and fertility rates
begin to fall, young age dependency ratio will follow the
same trend albeit with some lag. This will have positive -
and quite possibly major - implications for the economic
growth. Given the high fertility and reduced mortality over
the last several decades, Uganda's population will be
growing rapidly over the next several decades. Uganda's
economic future looks brighter under assumptions of
demographic change.