Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Uganda
Uganda: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 26.58 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Distribution of population between different poverty lines 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, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Uganda stood at 26.58 million people. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Uganda peaked at 26.58 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.38 million people, in 1989.
Uganda ranks 7th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Uganda, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 12.38 million people | — |
| 1992 | 15.13 million people | +22.2% |
| 1996 | 16.77 million people | +10.9% |
| 1999 | 19.08 million people | +13.7% |
| 2002 | 20.29 million people | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 20.44 million people | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 20.23 million people | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 19.54 million people | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 23.73 million people | +21.5% |
| 2019 | 26.26 million people | +10.7% |
| 2023 | 26.58 million people | +1.2% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 26.58 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.40 million people, 2.8× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 26.58 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.40 million people, 2.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.38 million people | 12.38 million people | 12.38 million people | 1 |
| 1990s | 16.99 million people | 15.13 million people | 19.08 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 20.32 million people | 20.23 million people | 20.44 million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 23.18 million people | 19.54 million people | 26.26 million people | 3 |
| 2020s | 26.58 million people | 26.58 million people | 26.58 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 distribution of population between different poverty lines in Uganda?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Uganda was 26.58 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 distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 26.58 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.38 million people in 1989.
- How does Uganda rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Uganda ranks 7th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.