MigrantoImmigrants in Uganda
2M foreigners live in Uganda — 4% of the country's population
Immigrants in Uganda by country
The 3 largest groups make up 86% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| South Sudan | 923658 |
| DR Congo | 637206 |
| Sudan | 141990 |
| Rwanda | 79149 |
| Somalia | 65070 |
| Burundi | 42181 |
| Eritrea | 41731 |
| Kenya | 23416 |
| Tanzania | 22790 |
| Ethiopia | 10059 |
| USA | 1422 |
| Canada | 241 |
| Australia | 210 |
| United Kingdom | 62 |
By region of origin
100% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Uganda in numbers
People born in South Sudan are the fastest-growing group
The number of people born in South Sudan living in Uganda has grown 416% since 2015, from 179.1K to 923.7K.
South Sudanese are the largest group by a wide margin
46% of all immigrants were born in South Sudan, while the next group accounts for just 32%.
30% of all emigrants from DR Congo live in Uganda
No other country has more people born in DR Congo.
1 in 13 people born in South Sudan lives in Uganda
923.7K people born in South Sudan live in Uganda — 7.73% of the population of South Sudan.
Immigrant population in Uganda over time
Foreigners living in Uganda, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 503437 |
| 1995 | 596482 |
| 2000 | 544475 |
| 2005 | 566082 |
| 2010 | 465292 |
| 2015 | 795840 |
| 2020 | 1763886 |
| 2024 | 1989185 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Uganda, by year
| Year | South Sudanese | Congolese | Sudanese | Rwandans | Somalis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 48439 | 57470 | 257379 | 1095 |
| 1995 | 0 | 57379 | 210776 | 187709 | 4352 |
| 2000 | 0 | 59982 | 240251 | 104439 | 5982 |
| 2005 | 0 | 80038 | 265185 | 92150 | 8458 |
| 2010 | 0 | 161865 | 89542 | 84421 | 22748 |
| 2015 | 179082 | 299572 | 89403 | 80434 | 41622 |
| 2020 | 875322 | 526428 | 107636 | 76677 | 53018 |
| 2024 | 923658 | 637206 | 141990 | 79149 | 65070 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Uganda
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Uganda
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Uganda?
Around 2M immigrants live in Uganda — the world's #35 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Uganda are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 4% of the population of Uganda — that's 2M out of a total population of 50M.
Where do most immigrants in Uganda come from?
Most immigrants in Uganda come from South Sudan, DR Congo and Sudan — these three countries account for about 86% of all immigrants.
How many South Sudanese live in Uganda?
Around 923.7K South Sudanese live in Uganda — about 46% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Uganda growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Uganda has grown from 795.8K to 2M, about 150%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Uganda come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Uganda. Their children born in Uganda are not included.
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Living in Uganda
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