If you lived in Uganda instead of Benin, you would:

Health

live 7.5 years longer

In Benin, the average life expectancy is 61 years (60 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 68 years (65 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 22.7% less likely to be obese

In Benin, 12.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 9.5% of people as of 2024.

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have 28.9% more access to essential health services

Benin scores 38 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uganda scores 49 as of 2021.

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be 22.8% less likely to die by suicide

Benin has a suicide rate of 7.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uganda, it is 5.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 7.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Benin, 0.7% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 4.9% of people as of 2024.

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have 11.6% fewer doctors per person

Benin has 2.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Uganda has 1.9 as of 2022.

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Economy

be 55.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Benin, 36.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Uganda, however, that number is 16.1% as of 2023.

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be 73.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Benin, 1.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uganda, that number is 2.8% as of 2025.

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make 27.3% less money

Benin has a GDP per capita of $1,658 as of 2025, while in Uganda, the GDP per capita is $1,206 as of 2025.

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Life

be 67.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Benin, approximately 518.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Uganda, 170.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 49.9% more likely to be literate

In Benin, the literacy rate is 51.4% as of 2022. In Uganda, it is 77.0% as of 2024.

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be 20.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Benin, approximately 45.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Uganda, on the other hand, 35.9 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 73.7% less likely to have internet access

In Benin, approximately 34.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uganda, about 8.9% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 20.7% less on education

Benin spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Uganda spends 2.6% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 26.9% more on healthcare

Benin spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Uganda, that number is 4.2% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 35.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Benin, road accidents kill 24.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Uganda, they kill 16.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 25.0% less home broadband

Benin has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uganda has 0.2 as of 2024.

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live with 5.9 times more strain on fresh water

Benin withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uganda withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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use 16.9% less electricity

Benin uses 115 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Uganda uses 95 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 22.1% less likely to die from air pollution

In Benin, air pollution causes 77.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uganda, it causes 60.0 as of 2019.

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emit 65.3% less CO2

Benin emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Uganda emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Uganda: At a glance

Uganda is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 197,100 sq km. The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. A constitutional referendum in 2005 cancelled a 19-year ban on multi-party politics.
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How big is Uganda compared to Benin? See an in-depth size comparison.

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