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

Health

be 24.7% less likely to die by suicide

Vietnam has a suicide rate of 7.3 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uganda, it is 5.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 12.2 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Vietnam, 0.4% 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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live 6.2 years less

In Vietnam, the average life expectancy is 75 years (70 years for men, 79 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 3.9 times more likely to be obese

In Vietnam, 2.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uganda, that number is 9.5% of people as of 2024.

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see 79.9% less spent on your healthcare

Vietnam spends $690 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uganda spends $139 as of 2023.

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have 82.7% fewer doctors per person

Vietnam has 11.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Uganda has 1.9 as of 2022.

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have 27.9% less access to essential health services

Vietnam scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uganda scores 49 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 80.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Vietnam, 1.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uganda, that number is 2.8% as of 2025.

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be 3.8 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Vietnam, 4.2% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Uganda, however, that number is 16.1% as of 2023.

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make 76.2% less money

Vietnam has a GDP per capita of $5,066 as of 2025, while in Uganda, the GDP per capita is $1,206 as of 2025.

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Life

have 2.6 times more children

In Vietnam, there are approximately 13.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uganda, there are 34.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 3.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Vietnam, approximately 48.0 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 19.9% less likely to be literate

In Vietnam, the literacy rate is 96.1% as of 2022. In Uganda, it is 77.0% as of 2024.

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be 3.0 times more likely to die during infancy

In Vietnam, approximately 12.0 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 48.4% less likely to have access to electricity

In Vietnam, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% 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.

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be 89.4% less likely to have internet access

In Vietnam, approximately 84.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Uganda, about 8.9% do as of 2024.

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be 36.2% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Vietnam, approximately 99% of people have access to drinking water (99% in urban areas, and 98% 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.

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Expenditures

spend 11.4% less on education

Vietnam spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Uganda spends 2.6% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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Infrastructure

live with 67.8% less strain on fresh water

Vietnam withdraws 18% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uganda withdraws 6% as of 2022.

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find 99.1% less home broadband

Vietnam has 23.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uganda has 0.2 as of 2024.

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use 96.3% less electricity

Vietnam uses 2,585 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Uganda uses 95 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 96.0% less CO2

Vietnam emits 4.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Uganda emits 0.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 15.4% more likely to die from air pollution

In Vietnam, air pollution causes 52.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uganda, it causes 60.0 as of 2019.

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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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