Number of people living in extreme poverty in Uganda
Uganda: Number of people living in extreme poverty was 22.31 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Uganda, 1989–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, number of people living in extreme poverty in Uganda stood at 22.31 million people. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 46.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty in Uganda peaked at 22.31 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.81 million people, in 1992.
That places Uganda 41st out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Uganda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 4.63 million people | — |
| 1992 | 3.81 million people | -17.8% |
| 1996 | 4.58 million people | +20.3% |
| 1999 | 4.59 million people | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 5.53 million people | +20.6% |
| 2005 | 7.79 million people | +40.8% |
| 2009 | 11.60 million people | +48.9% |
| 2012 | 15.25 million people | +31.5% |
| 2016 | 15.75 million people | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 17.67 million people | +12.1% |
| 2023 | 22.31 million people | +26.3% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 22.31 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.33 million people, 2.4× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 22.31 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.66 million people, 2.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.63 million people | 4.63 million people | 4.63 million people | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.33 million people | 3.81 million people | 4.59 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 8.31 million people | 5.53 million people | 11.60 million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 16.22 million people | 15.25 million people | 17.67 million people | 3 |
| 2020s | 22.31 million people | 22.31 million people | 22.31 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More poverty & inequality data for Uganda
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 3 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 4.28 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,920 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.96 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 12.46 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 12.5% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in extreme poverty in Uganda?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty in Uganda was 22.31 million people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 22.31 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.81 million people in 1992.
- How does Uganda rank for number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Uganda ranks 41st out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $3 per day.