If you lived in Uganda instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

be 71.7% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Uganda, that number is 5.4% of people as of 2020.

live 3.6 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 years for women) as of 2022. In Uganda, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 81.3% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Uganda, that number is 5.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 67.1% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.5% of adults are unemployed as of 2019. In Uganda, that number is 9.4% as of 2014.

pay a 11.1% lower top tax rate

South Africa has a top tax rate of 45.0% as of 2017. In Uganda, the top tax rate is 40.0% as of 2016.

make 80.9% less money

South Africa has a GDP per capita of $11,500 as of 2020, while in Uganda, the GDP per capita is $2,200 as of 2020.

be 28.9% more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Uganda, however, that number is 21.4% as of 2017.

Life

have 2.2 times more children

In South Africa, there are approximately 18.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Uganda, there are 40.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

be 3.2 times more likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 119.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Uganda, 375.0 women do as of 2017.

be 19.5% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Uganda, it is 76.5% as of 2018.

be 17.7% more likely to die during infancy

In South Africa, approximately 25.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Uganda, on the other hand, 30.4 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 69.1% less likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 94% of people have electricity access (95% in urban areas, and 92% in rural areas) as of 2019. In Uganda, that number is 29% of people on average (66% in urban areas, and 17% in rural areas) as of 2019.

be 71.4% less likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 70.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Uganda, about 20.0% do as of 2020.

be 14.1% less likely to have access to improved drinking water

In South Africa, approximately 97% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 90% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Uganda, that number is 83% of people on average (92% in urban areas, and 80% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 55.9% less on education

South Africa spends 6.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Uganda spends 3.0% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 58.2% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 9.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Uganda, that number is 3.8% of GDP as of 2019.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, South African Revenue Service, Uganda Revenue Authority.

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 South Africa? See an in-depth size comparison.

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