Arua Population 2026

Arua has a population of 72,400, making it the #29 biggest city in 🇺🇬 Uganda, located in Northern Region. Roughly 0.1% of Uganda's population lives here. It is about 23× smaller than Kampala, the country's biggest city.

Location of Arua (capital Kampala shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

72,400

Rank in Uganda

#29

Coordinates

3.02°N, 30.91°E

~1,215 m elevation · Africa/Kampala

Distance to capital (Kampala)

353 km

219 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Northern Region

City	Population	Rank in Uganda
Gulu	177,400	#10
Lira	119,323	#16
Kotido	75,700	#28
Apac	67,700	#32
Koboko	64,500	#35
Kitgum	56,891	#39
Yumbe	47,600	#46
Nebbi	41,400	#52

Cities near Arua

Koboko64,500 people · ~44 km away
Yumbe47,600 people · ~62 km away
Nebbi41,400 people · ~63 km away
Paidha37,500 people · ~68 km away
Pakwach28,700 people · ~90 km away
Adjumani37,100 people · ~105 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Arua?

Arua has a population of 72,400 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #29 biggest city in Uganda.

What region is Arua in?

Arua is located in Northern Region, Uganda.

Is Arua the capital of Uganda?

No, the capital of Uganda is Kampala, about 353 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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