Moving to New Zealand from Uganda

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Uganda to New Zealand. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Auckland averages 66°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 New Zealand, and how the trend has changed.

Moved in 2023
39 ↑ 86% vs 2022

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

Who's moving to New Zealand?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

UG
9.0
NZ
1.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UG
16.0
NZ
6.6

New Zealand 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
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UG
1.9
NZ
36.1

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand 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
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UG
0.2t
NZ
6.0t

Uganda generally does better on environment, though New Zealand 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
NZ
38.0
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UG
5.8%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Uganda leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

UG
2.8%
NZ
5.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

UG
$1,206
NZ
$49,591

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

UG
68.5 yrs
NZ
82.0 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UG
35.9
NZ
4.0

New Zealand performs significantly better than Uganda across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Uganda Revenue Authority (2016), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in New Zealand vs Uganda

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Auckland Rain: 43.3 in/yr (1101 mm)
66° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kampala Auckland
Jan–Mar 84°/64°F (29°/18°C) 74°/61°F (23°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 81°/64°F (27°/18°C) 63°/51°F (18°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 81°/63°F (27°/17°C) 60°/47°F (15°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/64°F (28°/17°C) 67°/55°F (20°/13°C)
View all months
Month Kampala Auckland
Jan 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.7°C) 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C)
Feb 85°/64°F (29.3°/18.0°C) 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C)
Mar 84°/65°F (28.7°/18.1°C) 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C)
Apr 82°/64°F (27.7°/18.0°C) 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C)
May 81°/64°F (27.3°/17.9°C) 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C)
Jun 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.6°C) 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C)
Jul 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.1°C) 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C)
Aug 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.1°C) 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C)
Sep 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.2°C) 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C)
Oct 82°/63°F (27.7°/17.4°C) 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C)
Nov 81°/64°F (27.4°/17.5°C) 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C)
Dec 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.5°C) 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Can you move from Uganda to New Zealand?

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

Uganda passport

Uganda passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Uganda passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Uganda

Visa Online (e-Visa)
New Zealand 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 New Zealand?

With 38.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, New Zealand 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 New Zealand.

Is New Zealand safe for expats?

New Zealand performs significantly better than Uganda across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.0 in Uganda.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Uganda?

Uganda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 1.9 in Uganda. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Uganda: 49).

What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Uganda?

The average high temperature in Auckland is 66°F, compared to 82°F in Kampala. Auckland receives around 43.3 in of rainfall per year, while Kampala gets 49.8 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Uganda, the official languages are English and Swahili.

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At a Glance

UG NZ
Population 51,384,894 5,324,700
Currency Ugandan Shilling (UGX) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages English, Swahili English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +256 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 999 111