Net migration in Uganda
Uganda: Net migration was -119,059 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Uganda, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Uganda recorded -119,059 for net migration in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 90.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Uganda peaked at 123,379 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -242,378, in 1995.
That places Uganda 205th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Uganda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -7,586 | — |
| 1961 | -7,893 | +4.0% |
| 1962 | -6,470 | -18.0% |
| 1963 | -3,058 | -52.7% |
| 1964 | -3,169 | +3.6% |
| 1965 | -3,716 | +17.3% |
| 1966 | -3,021 | -18.7% |
| 1967 | -3,773 | +24.9% |
| 1968 | -3,214 | -14.8% |
| 1969 | -14,548 | +352.6% |
| 1970 | -25,646 | +76.3% |
| 1971 | -42,642 | +66.3% |
| 1972 | -86,409 | +102.6% |
| 1973 | -73,439 | -15.0% |
| 1974 | -51,910 | -29.3% |
| 1975 | -47,359 | -8.8% |
| 1976 | -42,259 | -10.8% |
| 1977 | -37,671 | -10.9% |
| 1978 | -34,606 | -8.1% |
| 1979 | -98,863 | +185.7% |
| 1980 | -105,900 | +7.1% |
| 1981 | -83,010 | -21.6% |
| 1982 | -53,497 | -35.6% |
| 1983 | -45,776 | -14.4% |
| 1984 | -8,818 | -80.7% |
| 1985 | -42,942 | +387.0% |
| 1986 | -19,485 | -54.6% |
| 1987 | -22,415 | +15.0% |
| 1988 | -20,113 | -10.3% |
| 1989 | -12,576 | -37.5% |
| 1990 | -21,688 | +72.5% |
| 1991 | 3,643 | -116.8% |
| 1992 | 24,723 | +578.6% |
| 1993 | 18,349 | -25.8% |
| 1994 | -16,198 | -188.3% |
| 1995 | -242,378 | +1396.3% |
| 1996 | -22,795 | -90.6% |
| 1997 | -155,461 | +582.0% |
| 1998 | 6,277 | -104.0% |
| 1999 | -39,695 | -732.4% |
| 2000 | -52,824 | +33.1% |
| 2001 | -95,956 | +81.7% |
| 2002 | -35,149 | -63.4% |
| 2003 | -96,429 | +174.3% |
| 2004 | -138,770 | +43.9% |
| 2005 | -151,386 | +9.1% |
| 2006 | -156,232 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | -154,773 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | -158,790 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | -164,553 | +3.6% |
| 2010 | -168,322 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | -173,005 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | -175,936 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | -176,579 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | -92,273 | -47.7% |
| 2015 | -62,366 | -32.4% |
| 2016 | 123,379 | -297.8% |
| 2017 | 92,879 | -24.7% |
| 2018 | 60,724 | -34.6% |
| 2019 | 107,210 | +76.6% |
| 2020 | 43,464 | -59.5% |
| 2021 | 43,464 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | -118,843 | -373.4% |
| 2023 | -126,181 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | -117,924 | -6.5% |
| 2025 | -119,059 | +1.0% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's -119,059 is below the median for low income countries, which is -7,704, 15.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's -119,059 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 21.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Uganda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | -1396.3% | -16,198 | -242,378 |
| 1999 | -732.4% | 6,277 | -39,695 |
| 1992 | +578.6% | 3,643 | 24,723 |
| 1997 | -582.0% | -22,795 | -155,461 |
| 1985 | -387.0% | -8,818 | -42,942 |
| 2022 | -373.4% | 43,464 | -118,843 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -5,645 | -14,548 | -3,021 | 10 |
| 1970s | -54,080 | -98,863 | -25,646 | 10 |
| 1980s | -41,453 | -105,900 | -8,818 | 10 |
| 1990s | -44,522 | -242,378 | 24,723 | 10 |
| 2000s | -120,486 | -164,553 | -35,149 | 10 |
| 2010s | -46,429 | -176,579 | 123,379 | 10 |
| 2020s | -65,846 | -126,181 | 43,464 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More financial sector data for Uganda
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Uganda?
- Net migration in Uganda was -119,059 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 123,379 in 2016.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was -242,378 in 1995.
- How does Uganda rank for net migration?
- Uganda ranks 205th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 90.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.