Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda

Uganda: Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines was 16.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
16.1%
World rank
41st
of 70 countries
All-time high
56.4%
in 1992
All-time low
16.1%
in 2023
Years of data
10
1992–2023

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda, 1992–2023

20304050601992200720231992: 56.4 % of population1996: 44.4 % of population1999: 33.8 % of population2002: 38.8 % of population2005: 31.1 % of population2009: 24.5 % of population2012: 19.7 % of population2016: 21.4 % of population2019: 20.3 % of population2023: 16.1 % of population

Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W. Measured in % of population.

Analysis

The most recent figure for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda is 16.1%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of down 18.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda peaked at 56.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 2023.

Uganda ranks 41st of 70 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda, year by year

Annual values for Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Uganda, 1992 to 2023.
Year % of population Change
1992 56.4%
1996 44.4% -21.3%
1999 33.8% -23.9%
2002 38.8% +14.8%
2005 31.1% -19.8%
2009 24.5% -21.2%
2012 19.7% -19.6%
2016 21.4% +8.6%
2019 20.3% -5.1%
2023 16.1% -20.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 44.9% 33.8% 56.4% 3
2000s 31.5% 24.5% 38.8% 3
2010s 20.5% 19.7% 21.4% 3
2020s 16.1% 16.1% 16.1% 1

Countries ranked near Uganda

  1. 38 Malta 16.7% compare
  2. 39 Tunisia 16.6% compare
  3. 40 Portugal 16.4% compare
  4. 41 Botswana 16.1% compare
  5. 41 Sweden 16.1% compare
  6. 44 Switzerland 15.8% compare

See the full ranking of 70 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Uganda

All data for Uganda →

Frequently asked questions

What is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda?
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda was 16.1% in 2023, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W.
What is the highest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Uganda?
The highest recorded value was 56.4% in 1992.
What is the lowest poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines recorded in Uganda?
The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 2023.
How does Uganda rank for poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines?
Uganda ranks 41st out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
Is poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines rising or falling in Uganda?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Uganda data come from?
The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W, published as part of Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines in Uganda. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-national-poverty-lines-percent-of-population/uganda/

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About this data

Indicator
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population)
Unit
% of population
Source
World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are compiled from official government sources or are computed by World Bank staff using national (i.e. country–specific) poverty lines., World Bank (W
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
70 places, 986 data points, 1985–2025
Last refreshed

National poverty headcount ratio is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line(s). National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. For economies for which the data are from EU-SILC, the reported year is the income reference year, which is the year before the survey year.