Moving to Iceland from Uganda

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Uganda to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Uganda to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 82°F in Kampala, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Uganda to Iceland, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
23 ↑ 77% vs 2022

people moved from Uganda to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Uganda to Iceland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

UG
9.0
IS
1.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UG
16.0
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Uganda across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

UG
$139
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

UG
1.9
IS
43.7

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

UG
60.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UG
0.2t
IS
8.5t

Uganda generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UG
0.2
IS
37.5
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UG
5.8%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Uganda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

UG
2.8%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

UG
$1,206
IS
$98,323

Uganda generally does better on employment & economy, though Iceland leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

UG
68.5 yrs
IS
82.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UG
35.9
IS
2.1

Iceland performs significantly better than Uganda across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Uganda Revenue Authority (2016), Directorate of Internal Revenue (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Iceland vs Uganda

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kampala Rain: 49.8 in/yr (1264 mm)
82° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kampala Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 84°/64°F (29°/18°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/64°F (28°/17°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Kampala Reykjavik
Jan 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Can you move from Uganda to Iceland?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Uganda and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.

Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Uganda passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iceland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Uganda.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 37.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Uganda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.0 in Uganda.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Uganda?

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 43.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 1.9 in Uganda. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uganda: 49).

What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Uganda?

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 82°F in Kampala. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Kampala gets 49.8 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Uganda, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

UG IS
Population 51,384,894 392,404
Currency Ugandan Shilling (UGX) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages English, Swahili Icelandic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +256 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112