Uganda and the world
How does Uganda compare?
Uganda has higher incomes in dollars and fewer mothers dying in childbirth than most of its East African neighbours.
Uganda has faster growth than most of Africa’s biggest economies, but lower incomes and more extreme poverty.
Uganda has lower government debt and faster growth than most of the world’s biggest economies, but lower incomes and more extreme poverty.
- Uganda
- Other countries in the group
- Averages: sub-Saharan Africa, low-income countries, world
7 countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DR Congo, Ethiopia.
6 countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana.
7 countries: United States, China, India, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Brazil.
Where Uganda does best
Where Uganda lags
No measure puts Uganda at this end of the group.
Where Uganda does best
Where Uganda does best
Economy
- Economic growth20256.7%4th highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better2nd highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better2nd highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterIMF
- Income per person (adjusted for prices)2025$3,9245th highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better7th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterIMF
- Income per person (US dollars)2025$1,3752nd highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better5th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterIMF
- Inflation20253.6%7th highest of 8 in East Africa6th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies2nd highest of 8 among the biggest economiesIMF
- Government debt202554.2% of GDP5th lowest of 8 in East Africa · lower is better4th lowest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · lower is betterThe lowest of 8 among the biggest economies · lower is betterIMF
- Tax collected202412.6% of GDP5th highest of 7 in East Africa3rd highest of 5 among Africa’s biggest economies3rd highest of 7 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Exports202521.4% of GDP3rd highest of 6 in East Africa3rd highest of 6 among Africa’s biggest economies5th highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Foreign investment coming in20246.0% of GDPThe highest of 7 in East AfricaThe highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economiesThe highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Money sent home from abroad20242.7% of GDP6th highest of 7 in East Africa5th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies2nd highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Living on under $3 a day201959.8%5th lowest of 8 in East Africa · lower is better7th lowest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · lower is better8th lowest of 8 among the biggest economies · lower is betterWorld Bank
People
- Population202551.4 million5th highest of 8 in East Africa6th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies8th highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Population growth20252.7%3rd highest of 8 in East AfricaThe highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economiesThe highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Children per woman20244.2 births4th highest of 8 in East Africa2nd highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economiesThe highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Children under 15202543.1%3rd highest of 8 in East AfricaThe highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economiesThe highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Living in towns and cities202531.9%4th highest of 8 in East Africa6th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies8th highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
Health
- Life expectancy202166.0 years5th highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better5th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWHO
- Children dying before age 5202448.7 per 1,000 births6th lowest of 8 in East Africa · lower is better6th lowest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · lower is better8th lowest of 8 among the biggest economies · lower is betterWorld Bank
- Mothers dying in childbirth2023170 per 100,000 births2nd lowest of 8 in East Africa · lower is better4th lowest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · lower is better8th lowest of 8 among the biggest economies · lower is betterWorld Bank
- Malaria cases2024264 per 1,000 at risk6th lowest of 8 in East Africa · lower is better6th lowest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · lower is better4th lowest of 4 among the biggest economies · lower is betterWHO
- Health service coverage202354 index 0–1003rd highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better5th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWHO
- Doctors20242.1 per 10,000 people3rd highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better6th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWHO
- Health spending per person2023$454th highest of 8 in East Africa6th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies8th highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
Education
- Children finishing primary school201753.3%2nd highest of 3 in East Africa · higher is better2nd highest of 2 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better2nd highest of 2 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWorld Bank
- Secondary school enrolment200724.1%Uganda’s latest figure is from 2007, too old to rank against today’s.Uganda’s latest figure is from 2007, too old to rank against today’s.Uganda’s latest figure is from 2007, too old to rank against today’s.World Bank
- Adults who can read and write202477.0%3rd highest of 6 in East Africa · higher is better3rd highest of 6 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better4th highest of 4 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWorld Bank
Jobs
- Women in the labour force202575.6%3rd highest of 8 in East Africa2nd highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economiesThe highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Jobs in farming202564.9%2nd highest of 8 in East AfricaThe highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economiesThe highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
Energy & internet
- People with electricity202455.3%4th highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better7th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWorld Bank
- People cooking with clean fuels20231.8%6th highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better7th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWorld Bank
- Internet users20248.9%6th highest of 8 in East Africa · higher is better7th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies · higher is better8th highest of 8 among the biggest economies · higher is betterWorld Bank
- Mobile phone subscriptions202483 per 100 people4th highest of 8 in East Africa5th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies7th highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
- Land covered by forest202311.0%6th highest of 8 in East Africa5th highest of 7 among Africa’s biggest economies8th highest of 8 among the biggest economiesWorld Bank
About these comparisons
These figures come from international organisations, so countries are measured the same way. For Uganda itself, UBOS is the official source, and some numbers differ: the World Bank’s poverty line ($3 a day) is not UBOS’s national poverty line, for example.
Each country is compared on its latest available year (shown when you hover), within five years of Uganda’s. IMF figures for this year onwards are projections and are not used in rankings. For WHO figures, the Africa average is WHO’s Africa region.
Sources
- World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
- IMF, World Economic Outlook (IMF terms of use)
- WHO, Global Health Observatory (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO)
The Bank of Uganda publishes its own figures through its data portal.