Uganda Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Kampala

Population

50,863,850 (2025 est.)

Area

241,038 sq km

Location

East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

🧭 Background

An ancient crossroads for various migrations, Uganda has as many as 65 ethnic groups that speak languages from three of Africa’s four major linguistic families. As early as 1200, fertile soils and regular rainfall in the south fostered the formation of several large, centralized kingdoms, including Buganda, from which the country derives its name. Muslim traders from Egypt reached northern Uganda in the 1820s, and Swahili merchants from the Indian Ocean coast arrived in the south by the 1840s. The area attracted the attention of British explorers seeking the source of the Nile River in the 1860s, and this influence expanded in subsequent decades with the arrival of Christian missionaries and trade agreements; Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894. Buganda and other southern kingdoms negotiated agreements with Britain to secure privileges and a level of autonomy that were rare during the colonial period in Africa. Uganda's colonial boundaries grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures, and the disparities between how Britain governed southern and northern areas compounded these differences, complicating efforts to establish a cohesive independent country. Uganda gained independence in 1962 with one of the more developed economies and one of the strongest education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it descended within a few years into political turmoil and internal conflict that lasted more than two decades. In 1966, Prime Minister Milton OBOTE suspended the constitution and violently deposed President Edward MUTESA, who was also the king of Buganda. Idi AMIN seized power in 1971 through a military coup and led the country into economic ruin and rampant mass atrocities that killed as many as 500,000 civilians. AMIN’s annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 provoked Tanzania to invade Uganda, depose AMIN, and install a coalition government. In the aftermath, Uganda continued to experience atrocities, looting, and political instability and had four different heads of state between 1979 and 1980. OBOTE regained the presidency in 1980 through a controversial election that sparked renewed guerrilla warfare, killing as an estimated 300,000 civilians. Gen. Tito OKELLO seized power in a coup in 1985, but his rule was short-lived, with Yoweri MUSEVENI becoming president in 1986 after his insurgency captured the capital. MUSEVENI is widely credited with restoring relative stability and economic growth to Uganda but has resisted calls to leave office. In 2017, parliament removed presidential age limits, making it possible for MUSEVENI to remain in office for life.

🗺️ Geography

Location

East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

241,038 sq km

Area — land

197,100 sq km

Area — water

43,938 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries — total

2,729 km

Land boundaries — border countries

Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

Climate

Tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Terrain

Mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Elevation — highest point

Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Elevation — lowest point

Albert Nile 614 m

Natural resources

Copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold

Land use — agricultural land

71.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

12.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

16% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

105 sq km (2013)

Major lakes (area sq km) — fresh water lake(s)

Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)

Population distribution

Population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

Droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms

Geography - note

Landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

50,863,850 (2025 est.)

Population — male

24,835,513

Population — female

26,028,337

Nationality — noun

Ugandan(s)

Nationality — adjective

Ugandan

Ethnic groups

Baganda 16.5%, Banyankole 9.6%, Basoga 8.8%, Bakiga 7.1%, Iteso 7%, Langi 6.3%, Bagisu 4.9%, Acholi 4.4%, Lugbara 3.3%, other 32.1% (2014 est.)

Languages

English (official), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili (official), Arabic

Religions

Protestant 45.1% (Anglican 32.0%, Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical 11.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, Baptist .3%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2% (2014 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

47% (male 11,747,745/female 11,427,932)

Age structure — 15-64 years

50.6% (male 11,788,483/female 13,131,051)

Age structure — 65 years and over

2.4% (2024 est.) (male 504,332/female 683,498)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

96.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

92.1 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

4.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

20.8 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

16.4 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

15.5 years

Median age — female

17.1 years

Population growth rate

3.13% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

38.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-2.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization — urban population

26.8% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.9 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.4 years (2016 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

31.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

25.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

69.7 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

67.5 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

72 years

Total fertility rate

5.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.5 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 80.3% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 59.3% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 19.7% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

4.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 67.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 27.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 32.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 72.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

6.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

4.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

7.8% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

1.5% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.7% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.8% (2022 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

7.3% (2016)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

34% (2016)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

5.5% (2016)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

8.5% national budget (2022 est.)

Literacy — total population

69.1% (2016 est.)

Literacy — male

78.5% (2016 est.)

Literacy — female

61% (2016 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

9 years (2016 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

10 years (2016 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

9 years (2016 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Climate

Tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Land use — agricultural land

71.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

12.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

16% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

26.8% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

-398 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

7.045 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.1% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

328 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

50 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

259 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

60.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Uganda

Country name — conventional short form

Uganda

Country name — etymology

The name is derived from the Swahili word u, meaning "land" or "country," and the Ganda people; the origin of the Ganda name is unclear

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Kampala

Capital — geographic coordinates

0 19 N, 32 33 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

The name is said to come from an African antelope, the impala

Administrative divisions

134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo

Legal system

Mixed system of English common law and customary law

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent of the president of the republic

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

An aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of Parliament or persons who qualify to be elected as members of Parliament

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits)

Executive branch — most recent election date

14 January 2021

Executive branch — election results

2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (aka Bobi WINE) (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

2026

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

529 (499 directly elected; 30 indirectly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

1/14/2021 to 1/18/2021

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

National Resistance Movement (NRM) (336); National Unity Platform (NUP) (57); Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) (32); Independents (74); Other (30)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

34.1%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

January 2026

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Justices appointed by the president of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, an 8-member independent advisory body, and approved by the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Appeal (also acts as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 12 High Court Circuits and 8 High Court Divisions); Industrial Court; Chief Magistrate Grade One and Grade Two Courts throughout the country; qadhis courts; local council courts; family and children courts

Political parties

Democratic Party or DP Forum for Democratic Change or FDC Justice Forum or JEEMA National Resistance Movement or NRM National Unity Platform People's Progressive Party or PPP Uganda People's Congress or UPC

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Robie KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 726-7100

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 726-1727

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Washington@mofa.go.ug https://washington.mofa.go.ug/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC 20521-2190

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[256] (0) 312-306-001

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[256] (0) 414-259-794

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

KampalaWebContact@state.gov https://ug.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCDF, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNOPS, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

9 October 1962 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Flag

Description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is at the center and shows a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) meaning: black stands for the African people, yellow for sunshine and vitality, and red for African brotherhood

National symbol(s)

Grey crowned crane

National color(s)

Black, yellow, red

National anthem(s) — title

"O Uganda, Land of Beauty!"

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

George Wilberforce KAKOMOA

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (n); Rwenzori Mountains National Park (n); Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (c)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Low-income, primarily agrarian East African economy; COVID-19 hurt economic growth and poverty reduction; lower oil prices threaten prior sector investments; endemic corruption; natural resource rich; high female labor force participation but undervalued

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$144.137 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$135.803 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$128.923 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

6.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$2,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$2,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$2,700 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$53.652 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.3% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.2% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

24.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

24.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

43.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

66.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

10% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

21.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

16.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-24.6% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023)

Industries

Sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

Industrial production growth rate

4.9% (2024 est.)

Labor force

22.829 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

2.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

2.9% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

4.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

3.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

5.5% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.3% (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

42.7 (2019 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

38.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

2.4% (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

34.5% (2019 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$7.616 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$10.043 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2023

53.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

13% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$3.766 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$4.064 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$3.605 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$9.084 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$6.116 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$6.231 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

India 21%, UAE 16%, Hong Kong 10%, South Sudan 8%, Kenya 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$13.853 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$11.079 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$10.62 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

China 19%, UAE 12%, Tanzania 11%, India 10%, Kenya 7% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018

$3.359 billion (2018 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017

$3.721 billion (2017 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016

$3.098 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$10.469 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

3,757.263 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

3,726.14 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

3,689.817 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

3,587.052 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

3,718.249 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

47.1% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

72%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

35.9%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

1.452 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

4.254 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

400.349 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

23.289 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

1.116 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

19 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

100 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

19 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

44,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

116,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

41.6 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

83 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

Public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 FM stations

Internet country code

.ug

Internet users — percent of population

15% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

44,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2023 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

5X

Airports

39 (2025)

Railways — total

1,244 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2019

1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

Most of the UPDF's arms are of Russian/Soviet origin with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Bulgaria, China, Czechia, Israel, and South Africa, as well as some domestically produced items; Uganda has a small defense industry that assembles or manufactures light armored vehicles and performs maintenance on some military equipment, including its Russian-made helicopters (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025)

Military deployments

Estimated 3,000 Democratic Republic of Congo; up to 4,500 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)

Military - note

The responsibilities of the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, contributing to regional security, participating in socio-economic development projects, conducting military diplomacy, and ensuring internal security, including against civil unrest, internal insurgency, and terrorism; in recent years it has beefed up its presence along the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan; the UPDF participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895 under the British colonial government; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in 1902, which participated in both world wars, as well as the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952-1960); in 1962, the Ugandan battalion of the KAR was transformed into the country's first military force, the Uganda Rifles, which was subsequently renamed the Uganda Army; the UPDF was established in 1995 from the former rebel National Resistance Army following the enactment of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (2025)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

1,796,597 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

22,209 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

10,284 (2024 est.)