Uganda's net migration was -119,059 in 2025, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is down 90.9% from -62,366 in 2015.
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | -119,059 | 2025 |
| Five years earlier | 43,464 | 2020 |
| Ten years earlier | -62,366 | 2015 |
| Highest | 123,379 | 2016 |
| Lowest | -242,378 | 1995 |
| Average since 2016 | -1,089 | 2016–2025 |
| First recorded | -7,586 | 1960 |
What the numbers say
In 2025, Uganda's net migration fell 1,135 on 2024 (from -117,924 to -119,059).
Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −3,391 and a typical year strayed about 89,754 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 219,583 in 1996 and the biggest yearly fall was 226,180 in 1995. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is downward, about 31,941 a year. A straight line explains 83% of the movement over 10 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2025, Uganda had the 204th highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | -119,059 | 2025 |
| World | 0 | 2025 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | -223,909 | 2025 |
| Low income | 160,831 | 2025 |
Closest to Uganda in the 2025 ranking
- Venezuela, RB — 201st of 217: -100,467
- Mexico — 202nd of 217: -108,037
- Czechia — 203rd of 217: -112,188
- Chad — 205th of 217: -123,104
- Philippines — 206th of 217: -149,315
- Brazil — 207th of 217: -217,283
What this measures
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.
Limitations: International migration is the component of population change most difficult to measure and estimate reliably. Thus, the quality and quantity of the data used in the estimation and projection of net migration varies considerably by country. Furthermore, the movement of people across international boundaries, which is very often a response to changing socio-economic, political and environmental forces, is subject to a great deal of volatility. Refugee movements, for instance, may involve large numbers of people moving across boundaries in a short time.
Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.
All 66 values
| Year | Net migration |
|---|---|
| 2025 | -119,059 |
| 2024 | -117,924 |
| 2023 | -126,181 |
| 2022 | -118,843 |
| 2021 | 43,464 |
| 2020 | 43,464 |
| 2019 | 107,210 |
| 2018 | 60,724 |
| 2017 | 92,879 |
| 2016 | 123,379 |
| 2015 |
Net migration in nearby economies
- Angola — -3,524 (2025)
- Benin — -7,847 (2025)
- Botswana — -5,665 (2025)
- Burkina Faso — -27,130 (2025)
- Burundi — -34,727 (2025)
- Cabo Verde — -1,284 (2025)
- Cameroon — -15,379 (2025)
- Central African Republic — -14,693 (2025)
- Chad — -123,104 (2025)
- Comoros — -2,127 (2025)
- Congo, Dem. Rep. — -27,309 (2025)
- Congo, Rep. — -2,999 (2025)
- Côte d'Ivoire
More social protection & labor data for Uganda
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asylum — 1.94 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of origin — 12,792 (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 65.97% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 73.59% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) — 69.77% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate) — 76.93% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Uganda's net migration?
- -119,059 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1960?
- It is down 1,469% from -7,586 in 1960. The highest value was 123,379 in 2016 and the lowest -242,378 in 1995.
- How does Uganda rank?
- 204th highest of 217 economies with data for 2025.
- Is the latest change in net migration unusual for Uganda?
- In 2025, Uganda's net migration fell 1,135 on 2024 (from -117,924 to -119,059). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was −3,391 and a typical year strayed about 89,754 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
- Where does this data come from?
- The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SM.POP.NETM, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.
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