Moving to Latvia from Uganda

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Uganda to Latvia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Uganda to Latvia, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 82°F in Kampala, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Uganda to Latvia, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2019
1

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

Who's moving to Latvia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Uganda and Latvia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

UG
8.8
LV
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UG
16.0
LV
9.8

Latvia performs significantly better than Uganda across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

UG
$139
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UG
1.7
LV
33.8

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia 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
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UG
0.2t
LV
3.6t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UG
0.1
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UG
5.8%
LV
1.1%

Latvia performs significantly better than Uganda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

UG
2.8%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UG
$2,800
LV
$37,800

Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Uganda leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UG
69.0 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UG
30.4
LV
4.8

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

Data: The World Factbook, Uganda Revenue Authority, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Riga Rain: 24.9 in/yr (633 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kampala Riga
Jan–Mar 84°/64°F (29°/18°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/64°F (28°/17°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Kampala Riga
Jan 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting Latvia

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

Latvia passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Latvia 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 Latvia?

With 26.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Latvia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Uganda and Latvia.

Is Latvia safe for expats?

Latvia performs significantly better than Uganda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.8 in Uganda.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Uganda?

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 1.7 in Uganda. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uganda: 49).

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 82°F in Kampala. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Kampala gets 49.8 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Uganda, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

UG LV
Population 46,205,893 1,842,226
Currency Ugandan Shilling (UGX) Euro (€)
Languages English, Swahili Latvian
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +256 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 112