Economy - overview:
Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, substantial reserves of recoverable oil, and small deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the economy, employing 72% of the work force. The country’s export market suffered a major slump following the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan, but has recovered lately, largely due to record coffee harvests, which account for 16% of exports, and increasing gold exports, which account for 10% of exports. Uganda has a small industrial sector that is dependent on imported inputs such as refined oil and heavy equipment. Overall, productivity is hampered by a number of supply-side constraints, including insufficient infrastructure, lack of modern technology in agriculture, and corruption.

Uganda’s economic growth has slowed since 2016 as government spending and public debt has grown. Uganda’s budget is dominated by energy and road infrastructure spending, while Uganda relies on donor support for long-term drivers of growth, including agriculture, health, and education. The largest infrastructure projects are externally financed through concessional loans, but at inflated costs. As a result, debt servicing for these loans is expected to rise.

Oil revenues and taxes are expected to become a larger source of government funding as oil production starts in the next three to 10 years. Over the next three to five years, foreign investors are planning to invest $9 billion in production facilities projects, $4 billion in an export pipeline, as well as in a $2-3 billion refinery to produce petroleum products for the domestic and East African Community markets. Furthermore, the government is looking to build several hundred million dollars’ worth of highway projects to the oil region.

Uganda faces many economic challenges. Instability in South Sudan has led to a sharp increase in Sudanese refugees and is disrupting Uganda's main export market. Additional economic risks include: poor economic management, endemic corruption, and the government’s failure to invest adequately in the health, education, and economic opportunities for a burgeoning young population. Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa - only 22% of Ugandans have access to electricity, dropping to 10% in rural areas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$89.19 billion (2017 est.)
$85.07 billion (2016 est.)
$83.14 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 89
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$26.62 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2017 est.)
2.3% (2016 est.)
5.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 59
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,400 (2017 est.)
$2,300 (2016 est.)
$2,300 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 200
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
20.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
21.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
17.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 93
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 74.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 23.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -25.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 28.2% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 21.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 50.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry, and fish

Industries:
sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 69
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
15.84 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 38
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 71%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 7%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 22% (2013 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
9.4% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 137
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
21.4% (2017 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.4%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 36.1% (2009 est.)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.5 (2013)
45.7 (2002)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 71
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 3.848 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 4.928 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
14.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 199
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 158
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
40% of GDP (2017 est.)
37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 127
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.6% (2017 est.)
5.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 181
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
9% (February 2018)
9.5% (December 2017)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 34
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.28% (31 December 2017 est.)
23.89% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 11
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$2.519 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.167 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 127
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$2.519 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.167 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 134
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$4.297 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.989 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 132
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$7.294 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$7.727 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$1.788 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 77
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$1.212 billion (2017 est.)
-$707 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 148
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$3.339 billion (2017 est.)
$2.921 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 124
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
Kenya 17.7%, UAE 16.7%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.6%, Rwanda 6.1%, Italy 4.8% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural products; gold

Imports:
$5.036 billion (2017 est.)
$4.424 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 127
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners:
China 17.4%, India 13.4%, UAE 12.2%, Kenya 7.9%, Japan 6.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.3%, Indonesia 4.4%, South Africa 4.1% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.654 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.034 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
note: excludes gold
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 101
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$10.8 billion (22 March 2018 est.)
$11.54 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.241 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 112
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$541 million (2017)
NA
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 128
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
NA
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -
3,695 (2017 est.)
3,420.1 (2016 est.)
3,420.1 (2015 est.)
3,234.1 (2014 est.)
2,599.8 (2013 est.)