Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Uganda instead of Zambia, you would:

Health

be 51.4% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Zambia, 11.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Uganda, that number is 5.4% of people as of 2020.

live 2.7 years longer

In Zambia, the average life expectancy is 66 years (65 years for men, 68 years for women) as of 2022. In Uganda, that number is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 34.6% less likely to be obese

In Zambia, 8.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Uganda, that number is 5.3% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 52.1% less likely to be unemployed

In Zambia, 5.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Uganda, that number is 2.8% as of 2023.

be 66.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Zambia, 60.0% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Uganda, however, that number is 20.3% as of 2019.

make 24.3% less money

Zambia has a GDP per capita of $3,700 as of 2023, while in Uganda, the GDP per capita is $2,800 as of 2023.

pay a 14.3% higher top tax rate

Zambia has a top tax rate of 35.0% as of 2016. In Uganda, the top tax rate is 40.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 17.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Zambia, approximately 37.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Uganda, on the other hand, 30.4 children do as of 2022.

have 16.1% more children

In Zambia, there are approximately 34.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uganda, there are 39.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Zambia, approximately 135.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Uganda, 284.0 women do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 16.1% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Zambia, approximately 72% of people have improved drinking water access (90% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Uganda, that number is 83% of people on average (92% in urban areas, and 80% in rural areas) as of 2020.

be 52.4% less likely to have internet access

In Zambia, approximately 21.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Uganda, about 10.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 27.0% less on education

Zambia spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Uganda spends 2.7% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 28.6% less on healthcare

Zambia spends 5.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Uganda, that number is 4.0% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Zambia Revenue Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority.

Uganda: At a glance

Uganda is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 197,100 sq km. The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. A constitutional referendum in 2005 cancelled a 19-year ban on multi-party politics.
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How big is Uganda compared to Zambia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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