If you lived in Uganda instead of Burkina Faso, you would:

Health

live 7.2 years longer

In Burkina Faso, the average life expectancy is 61 years (59 years for men, 63 years for women) as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 68 years (65 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

have 29.1% more doctors per person

Burkina Faso has 1.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Uganda has 1.9 as of 2022.

View global rankings →

have 22.5% more access to essential health services

Burkina Faso scores 40 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uganda scores 49 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 35.3% less likely to die by suicide

Burkina Faso has a suicide rate of 8.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uganda, it is 5.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

be 9.8 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Burkina Faso, 0.5% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 4.9% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 23.1% more likely to be obese

In Burkina Faso, 7.7% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 9.5% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 38.0% less spent on your healthcare

Burkina Faso spends $224 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uganda spends $139 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 21.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Burkina Faso, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uganda, that number is 2.8% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 62.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Burkina Faso, 43.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Uganda, however, that number is 16.1% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Life

be 29.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Burkina Faso, approximately 242.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Uganda, 170.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 85.3% more likely to be literate

In Burkina Faso, the literacy rate is 41.6% as of 2023. In Uganda, it is 77.0% as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 17.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Burkina Faso, approximately 43.6 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.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 2.4 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Burkina Faso, approximately 22% of people have electricity access (63% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Uganda, that number is 52% of people on average (76% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 26.0% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burkina Faso, approximately 50% of people have access to drinking water (81% in urban areas, and 34% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 63% of people on average (80% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 68.3% less likely to have internet access

In Burkina Faso, approximately 28.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uganda, about 8.9% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 52.0% less on education

Burkina Faso spends 5.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Uganda spends 2.6% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

View global rankings →

spend 45.6% less on healthcare

Burkina Faso spends 7.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Uganda, that number is 4.2% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 42.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Burkina Faso, road accidents kill 27.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Uganda, they kill 16.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 25.4% less strain on fresh water

Burkina Faso withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uganda withdraws 6% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

find 75.3% less home broadband

Burkina Faso has 0.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uganda has 0.2 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

use 28.5% less electricity

Burkina Faso uses 133 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Uganda uses 95 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 28.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Burkina Faso, air pollution causes 84.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uganda, it causes 60.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 37.0% less CO2

Burkina Faso emits 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Uganda emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


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.
Read more

How big is Uganda compared to Burkina Faso? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Uganda or Burkina Faso. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.