01
Physical geography
Mostly plateau with rim of mountains.
Local timeKampala ·
Africa / Eastern Africa · Card 056
Uganda
Uganda is a country in Eastern Africa. Its capital is Kampala.
Find Uganda
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Kampala
- Languages
- English & Swahili
- Currency
- Ugandan shilling (UGX)
- Population
- 51.4 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 241,550 km²93,263 square miles
- Independence
- 1962from the UK
Uganda in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Kampala; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English, Swahili.
03
Location
East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Flag
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)
History & independence
Uganda became independent from Britain on 9 October 1962 following constitutional negotiations. The following decades included the rule of Idi Amin and armed conflict. A new constitution was adopted in 1995.
-
Independence from Britain
-
Idi Amin takes power in a military coup
-
A new constitution is adopted
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture, trade and other services are important. Coffee is a major export, while tourism and manufacturing also contribute. Development of petroleum resources has brought major infrastructure investment.
Industry and production
sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people51.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10,321,603 | 10.322 |
| 1980 | 13,275,741 | 13.276 |
| 1990 | 17,569,897 | 17.570 |
| 2000 | 24,000,150 | 24.000 |
| 2010 | 32,390,802 | 32.391 |
| 2020 | 44,457,152 | 44.457 |
| 2025 | 51,384,894 | 51.385 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars52.42025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6,498,038,179 | 6.498 |
| 1991 | 6,858,945,425 | 6.859 |
| 1992 | 7,093,408,658 | 7.093 |
| 1993 | 7,684,026,613 | 7.684 |
| 1994 | 8,176,083,687 | 8.176 |
| 1995 | 9,118,233,745 | 9.118 |
| 1996 | 9,945,450,358 | 9.945 |
| 1997 | 10,452,668,512 | 10.453 |
| 1998 | 10,965,399,652 | 10.965 |
| 1999 | 11,848,547,280 | 11.849 |
| 2000 | 12,220,817,656 | 12.221 |
| 2001 | 12,854,303,430 | 12.854 |
| 2002 | 13,976,829,356 | 13.977 |
| 2003 | 14,881,585,674 | 14.882 |
| 2004 | 15,894,609,936 | 15.895 |
| 2005 | 16,901,146,461 | 16.901 |
| 2006 | 18,723,891,905 | 18.724 |
| 2007 | 20,299,025,449 | 20.299 |
| 2008 | 22,066,817,214 | 22.067 |
| 2009 | 23,567,695,615 | 23.568 |
| 2010 | 24,896,350,765 | 24.896 |
| 2011 | 27,234,530,260 | 27.235 |
| 2012 | 28,279,643,268 | 28.280 |
| 2013 | 29,294,007,440 | 29.294 |
| 2014 | 30,789,849,488 | 30.790 |
| 2015 | 32,387,183,730 | 32.387 |
| 2016 | 33,935,615,079 | 33.936 |
| 2017 | 34,998,276,802 | 34.998 |
| 2018 | 37,204,541,497 | 37.205 |
| 2019 | 39,600,047,064 | 39.600 |
| 2020 | 40,768,765,796 | 40.769 |
| 2021 | 42,210,585,953 | 42.211 |
| 2022 | 44,147,216,890 | 44.147 |
| 2023 | 46,503,341,915 | 46.503 |
| 2024 | 49,319,389,341 | 49.319 |
| 2025 | 52,442,200,145 | 52.442 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.582Medium human developmentRank 157 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.342
20000.407
20100.514
20200.571
20230.582
68.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth
6.3 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. Parliament has one chamber (a unicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Uganda.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Uganda?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.