GeoRealityMatch
Stunning architecture of a religious building with a distinctive dome near a large tree against a clear blue sky.Scenic aerial view of Kampala with a beautiful mosque and urban landscape.

Uganda

Africa · Eastern Africa

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingMedium development

Incomes are low.

BackpackerVery affordable cost of living.
Safety

129th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.420lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#129 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
9.0per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
45.9Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,120national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
10.5New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 248% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 57% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,488 PPP$1,206Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $347 a person, $1,660 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $401 a person, $1,795 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2008, $473 a person, $1,931 at PPP, inflation 12.1%2009, $799 a person, $2,015 at PPP, inflation 13%2010, $823 a person, $2,092 at PPP, inflation 4%2011, $836 a person, $2,268 at PPP, inflation 16.6%2012, $795 a person, $2,032 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2013, $818 a person, $2,045 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2014, $896 a person, $2,134 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2015, $863 a person, $2,190 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2016, $753 a person, $2,165 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2017, $765 a person, $2,158 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2018, $792 a person, $2,312 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2019, $822 a person, $2,441 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2020, $846 a person, $2,532 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2021, $883 a person, $2,685 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2022, $963 a person, $2,919 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2023, $1,002 a person, $3,100 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2024, $1,078 a person, $3,278 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $1,206 a person, $3,488 at PPP, inflation 3.6%$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $347 a person, $1,660 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $401 a person, $1,795 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2008, $473 a person, $1,931 at PPP, inflation 12.1%2009, $799 a person, $2,015 at PPP, inflation 13%2010, $823 a person, $2,092 at PPP, inflation 4%2011, $836 a person, $2,268 at PPP, inflation 16.6%2012, $795 a person, $2,032 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2013, $818 a person, $2,045 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2014, $896 a person, $2,134 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2015, $863 a person, $2,190 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2016, $753 a person, $2,165 at PPP, inflation 5.7%2017, $765 a person, $2,158 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2018, $792 a person, $2,312 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2019, $822 a person, $2,441 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2020, $846 a person, $2,532 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2021, $883 a person, $2,685 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2022, $963 a person, $2,919 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2023, $1,002 a person, $3,100 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2024, $1,078 a person, $3,278 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $1,206 a person, $3,488 at PPP, inflation 3.6%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
68.5years, at birthLow
#144 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
54WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
29.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
2.7%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
30 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
518EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet30 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Scenic aerial view of Kampala with a beautiful mosque and urban landscape.
How it changed

Uganda's Human Development Index

0.582Medium human development

157th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 25th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #156Solomon Islands0.584
  2. #157Ivory Coast0.582
  3. #157Uganda0.582
  4. #159Rwanda0.578
  5. #160Papua New Guinea0.576
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.342 in 1990 to 0.582 in 2023.

0.300.470.650.58219902000201020231990: 0.3421991: 0.3451992: 0.3391993: 0.3471994: 0.3501995: 0.3561996: 0.3671997: 0.3761998: 0.3861999: 0.3982000: 0.4072001: 0.4182002: 0.4322003: 0.4462004: 0.4612005: 0.4702006: 0.4812007: 0.4922008: 0.5022009: 0.5092010: 0.5142011: 0.5222012: 0.5262013: 0.5322014: 0.5392015: 0.5472016: 0.5532017: 0.5572018: 0.5632019: 0.5692020: 0.5712021: 0.5732022: 0.5782023: 0.5820.300.470.6519902000201020231990: 0.3421991: 0.3451992: 0.3391993: 0.3471994: 0.3501995: 0.3561996: 0.3671997: 0.3761998: 0.3861999: 0.3982000: 0.4072001: 0.4182002: 0.4322003: 0.4462004: 0.4612005: 0.4702006: 0.4812007: 0.4922008: 0.5022009: 0.5092010: 0.5142011: 0.5222012: 0.5262013: 0.5322014: 0.5392015: 0.5472016: 0.5532017: 0.5572018: 0.5632019: 0.5692020: 0.5712021: 0.5732022: 0.5782023: 0.582

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
68.5 years2024at birthUp 13.6 years from 54.9 years in 2005
Internet users
9%2024of people onlineUp 6 points from 3% in 2006
Urban population
32%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 17 points from 15% in 2006
Births per woman
4.172024births per womanDown 2.36 from 6.53 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
91%2022of energy usedDown 4 points from 95% in 2004
Access to electricity
55%2024of people with electricityUp 46 points from 9% in 2005
Infant mortality
362024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 31 from 67 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
11%2023of land under forestDown 4 points from 15% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Pearl of Africa: fertile land, a young population, and a growing tech scene in Kampala. The case against is low incomes, polluted air and short lives.

About Uganda

Uganda is an East African country of extraordinary natural richness, from the gorilla treks of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the chimpanzees of Kibale to the source of the Nile at Jinja and the crater lakes of the west. The culture is diverse and warm, with over fifty indigenous languages and a tradition of welcome that is one of East Africa's finest. Those who love wildlife, rivers, and a country that offers more than safari will find it genuinely exceptional.

Practical facts

  • CapitalKampala
  • LanguagesEnglish, Swahili
  • CurrencyUgandan shilling (UGX)
  • Area200,520 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Uganda's Human Development Index?

Uganda's Human Development Index is 0.582 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #157 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Uganda safe?

Uganda scores 2.42 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #129 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Uganda?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Uganda at 27.0 (New York = 100); that is #15 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Uganda?

Life expectancy at birth in Uganda is 68.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #144 of 195 countries.