MigrantoImmigrants in Uganda
2M foreign-born residents — the #35 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 86% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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
Africa is the leading region of origin at 100%
2M
1.7K
210
62
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Uganda.
South Sudan is the fastest-growing major source
Immigration from South Sudan has increased by 416% since 2015, rising from 179.1K to 923.7K in 9 years.
South Sudan is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
South Sudan accounts for 46% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 32%.
Uganda is a primary destination for emigrants from DR Congo
Uganda attracts 30% of all emigrants from DR Congo, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
A significant share of the population of South Sudan has settled here
More than 1 in 13 people from South Sudan now live in Uganda — 923.7K people, representing 7.73% of the population of South Sudan.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 503437 |
| 1995 | 596482 |
| 2000 | 544475 |
| 2005 | 566082 |
| 2010 | 465292 |
| 2015 | 795840 |
| 2020 | 1763886 |
| 2024 | 1989185 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | South Sudan | DR Congo | Sudan | Rwanda | Somalia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Uganda as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Uganda
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Uganda?
Around 2M foreign-born residents live in Uganda, making it the #35-largest immigrant population in the world.
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 foreign-born residents.
What share 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.
How has immigration to Uganda changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Uganda has grown from 795.8K to 2M people, a growth of about 150%.
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