Facts about Uganda

Facts about Uganda

1. The Pearl of Africa: Uganda is also known as the ‘Pearl of Africa’ – a term coined by British statesman Sir Winston Churchill to describe the country’s many beauties: snow-capped peaks, green hills, deep forests and crystal clear lakes

2. Independence: Uganda gained independence from the UK in 1962 (Uganda was not a British colony like Kenya, but a British protectorate)

3. National anthem and motto: Uganda’s official motto is: ‘For God and my Country’. The national anthem is ‘Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty’

5. National bird: The gray crowned crane is Uganda’s national bird. However, the not-so-pretty Marabou stork is the most common bird in the country

Fact: The gray crane is the national bird of Uganda. The Marabou stork is the most common bird in the country
Attribution: Son of Groucho + Matt Biddulph – Flickr.com

Fact: Uganda’s national bird is the gray crowned crane (top). The most common bird, however, is the less attractive marabou stork (bottom)

6. Languages: Around 40 languages are spoken in Uganda. The African languages in the country can be divided into 3 language families: Bantu (Niger-Congo languages), Nilotic languages (Nilo-Saharan languages) and the Central Sudanic languages (the latter is considered by some to be part of the Nilotic languages). English is the country’s official language and Ugandan English is a local dialect of it. Swahili and Arabic are also among the 40 languages spoken in Uganda

7. Bananas: Uganda is the world’s second largest producer of bananas, second only to India. Uganda produces approximately 11.1 million tons of bananas every year, while India produces 29.7 million tons (8% and 20% of world production respectively). Besides bananas, Uganda is also known for its tasty pineapples

8. Fast food: The Ugandans’ favorite fast food is called ‘rolex’ and is a kind of egg pancake with everything from vegetables to sausages. The name comes from a quick pronunciation of the English ‘roll of eggs’ in Luganda. Gastronomically, the rolex is best compared to a rolled omelette or an egg burrito

9. Meat stew: Ugandans love meat stews – i.e. stews that are rich in meat and include offal such as liver, stomach, intestines, etc. Nothing goes to waste!

10. Alcohol: Among all African nations, Uganda has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates. The most common alcoholic drink is ‘waragi’, which is a type of moonshine gin (‘waragi’ is a term for moonshine). Many of the alcoholic drinks in Uganda are made from bananas

11. Lake Victoria: Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria, lies on the borders of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. US President Barack Obama’s father (Barack Hussein Obama, Sr) was born on the shores of Lake Victoria

Fact: Uganda is called the 'Pearl of Africa' because of its landscape
Attribution: Jorn Eriksson + Miss Helena + Benno Hansen – Flickr.com

Sir Winston Churchill called Uganda the “Pearl of Africa” due to its diverse nature and beautiful landscape

Geographic facts

  • Location: The eastern part of Central Africa. West of Kenya and east of the Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Country borders: Democratic Republic of Congo (765 km), Kenya (933 km), Rwanda (169 km), South Sudan (435 km) and Tanzania (396 km)
  • Coastline: 0 km (inland state)
  • Climate: Tropical. Generally rainy with two
  • Landscape: Primary plateau with mountain ranges
  • Lowest point: 621 m (Albertsøen)
  • Highest point: 5,110 m (Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley)
  • Natural resources: Copper, cobalt, bryozoan lime, salt, gold and hydropower
  • Largest city: Kampala
  • Capital city: Kampala
  • Total area (square kilometers): 241.550,00 (2021)
  • Land areas (km2): 201.994,67 (2015)
  • Urban areas (km2): 3.854,12 (2015)
  • Agricultural land (km2): 144.150,00 (2021)
  • Agricultural area (% of total area): 71,89 (2021)
  • Forest area (% of land area): 11,45 (2021)
  • Plant species (higher), endangered: 64,00 (2018)
  • CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita): 0,13 (2020)

Demographic facts

Population

  • Population density (people per km2 total area): 3.846.102,00 (2023)
  • Population of largest city: 2,78 (2023)
  • Population growth (annual %): 48.582.334,00 (2023)
  • Population, total: 20,30 (2019)
  • Population growth in urban areas (annual %): 5,09 (2023)
  • Population in urban areas (% of total population): 18,84 (2022)
  • Population in rural areas (% of total population): 1,95 (2023)
  • Population growth in rural areas (annual %): 105,53 (2017)
  • Etniske grupper: 16.9% baganda, 9.5% banyakole, 8.4% basoga, 6.9% bakiga, 6.4% iteso, 6.1% langi, 4.7% acholi, 4.6% bagisu, 4.2% lugbara, 2.7% bunyoro, 29.6% andre/uspecificerede
  • Sprog: English (the official language), Ganda or Luganda, other Niger-Kordofan languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
  • Religioner: 41.9% Roman Catholics, 42% Protestants (35.9% Anglicans, 4.6% Pentecostals, 1.5% Seventh Day Adventists), 12.1% Muslims, 3.1% other, 0.9% none
  • Net immigration: 0,88 (2018)

Birth and death rates

  • Fertility rate, total (births per woman): 48,00 (2021)
  • Birth rate, gross (per 1,000 inhabitants): 36,22 (2022)
  • Teenage mothers (% of women aged 15-19 who have had children or are pregnant): 11,30 (2020)
  • Death rate, gross (per 1,000 people): 5,58 (2022)
  • Life expectancy at birth, women (years): 61,49 (2022)
  • Life expectancy at birth, men (years): 63,64 (2022)
  • Life expectancy at birth, all (years): 645.250,86 (2022)
  • Mortality caused by traffic accidents (per 100,000 inhabitants): 233,91 (2022)
  • Mortality, women (per 1,000 adult women): 325,66 (2022)
  • Mortality, male (per 1,000 adult males): 1,70 (2019)
  • Suicide rate, women (per 100,000 women): 7,60 (2019)
  • Mortality, infant (per 1,000 live births): -126.181,00 (2023)

Work, income and education

  • Wage earners, total (% of total labor force): n/a
  • Income share of the highest 10%: 2,40 (2019)
  • Income share of the lowest 10%: 10,00 (2021)
  • Unemployment, total (% of total labor force): 8,40 (2020)
  • Labor force, total: 65,70 (2022)
  • Workforce with basic education (% of the workforce): 75,95 (2021)
  • Labor force with medium education (% of labor force): 18.881.435,00 (2023)
  • Number of poor cf. national poverty limits (% of the population): 5,10 (2022)
  • Proportion of the population with moderate or severe food insecurity (%): 74,20 (2021)
  • School enrolments, primary school (gross %): 13,81 (2021)
  • Youth unemployment, all young people (% of total labor force aged 15 - 24): 26,77 (2023)
  • Young people not in education, employment or training, total (% of all young people): 3,42 (2021)
  • Literacy/literacy, total adults (% of population over 15): 31,00 (2018)

    Spending

  • Household (and NPIS) consumption expenditure (US$): 0,50 (2010)
  • Electricity consumption (kWh per inhabitant): 6,09 (2022)
  • Inhabitants using the Internet (% of the population): 473.000,00 (2020)
  • Mobile subscriptions (per 100 people): 29,40 (2019)
  • Number of smokers, total (over 15 years): 19,60 (2019)
  • Alcohol consumption per capita (litres of pure alcohol, expected estimates, +15 years): 5,16 (2021)

Business and tourism

  • Employers, total (% of total labor force): 4,47 (2022)
  • New companies (number of registrations): 1,69 (2020)
  • New businesses (new registrations per 1,000 inhabitants aged 15 - 64): 18.862,00 (2018)
  • Listed companies, total: 80,59 (2022)
  • Business conditions (0 = lowest grade to 100 = highest grade): 259,00 (2002)
  • International tourism, number of arrivals: 568.000,00 (2016)
  • International tourism, number of departures: 81,77 (2021)
  • Railway lines (total route kilometers): 259,00 (2002)
  • Railways, number of passengers transported (million passenger-kilometres): 73,23 (2023)

Health

  • Hospital beds (per 1,000 inhabitants): 34,50 (2019)
  • Suicide rate, men (per 100,000 men): 30,20 (2022)
  • Nurses and midwives (per 1,000 inhabitants): 0,16 (2020)
  • Doctors (per 1,000 inhabitants): 228,67 (2021)
  • Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population aged 15 - 49): 209,93 (2023)

Facts Uganda's economy

GDP and GNI

  • BNP (US$): 9,38 (2018)
  • GDP growth (annual %): 59,98 (2019)
  • GDP per capita (US$): 49.272.882.213,62 (2023)
  • GDP, KPP (US$): 5,23 (2023)
  • BNI (US$): 1.014,21 (2023)
  • GNI growth (annual %): 150.513.464.164,66 (2023)
  • Gross savings (% of GDP): 48.300.184.119,69 (2023)

Inflation, interest rates and consumer prices

  • Deposit rate (%): 4,88 (2021)
  • Lending rate (%): 5,35 (2023)
  • Inflation, consumer prices (annual %): 25,96 (2023)
  • Consumer Price Index (2010 = 100): 209,93 (2023)

Trade and production

  • Trade (% of GDP): 44,74 (2022)
  • Vareeksport (US$): 15,60 (2023)
  • Vareimport (US$): 7.688.765.795,89 (2023)
  • Food exports (% of merchandise exports): 14,18 (2021)
  • Food imports (% of goods imports): 135,53 (2022)
  • Food Production Index (2004 - 2006 = 100): 99.860.120.736,51 (2023)
  • Index of animal production (2004 - 2006 = 100): 11,30 (2019)

Industry

  • Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP): 5,39 (2023)
  • Industry (including construction), value added (US$): 21,41 (2022)
  • Industry, value added (% of GDP): 19,85 (2018)
  • Industry, value added (US$): 99,02 (2022)

Military

  • Armed forces, total: 46.000,00 (2020)
  • Military expenditure (% of GDP): 6.162.000.000,00 (2023)
  • Military Expenditure (US$): 12.159.000.000,00 (2023)

Others

  • Current health expenditure (% of GDP): 4,88 (2021)
  • Labor tax and contribution (% of company profit): 12.788.965.648,18 (2023)
  • Development Assistance (ODA) received per capita (US$): 2,06 (2022)
  • Social contributions (% of income): 923.122.515,01 (2022)