Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) released the latest Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) report 2023/24. In summary, this is the state of Uganda today at household level:

Households

• Total population = 45.9 million an increase of 4.9 million, this is as compared to the previous 2019/20 Survey
• Total number of households = 10.7 million
• Average household size = 4 persons, a slight reduction.
• Households with no children = 21.4%, an increase of 0.9%
• Households with no elderly persons = 86.4%, an increase of 0.6%
• Households headed by youth (aged 15-34 years) = 33.7%
• Households head with some primary education but didn’t complete primary schooling or with no formal education = 50.9%; the majority.

Household Expenditure

• Household monthly consumption expenditure = Ugx 566,862
• Household expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages = 44.2% (Highest household expenditure on food = 57% in Bunyoro and lowest = 26.6% in Kampala)
• Mean monthly consumption expenditure per adult = Ugx 167,573, an increase of Ugx 8,768 (Highest monthly consumption expenditure per adult = Ugx 302,179 in Kampala and lowest = Ugx 61,007 in Karamoja)

Poverty

• Food poor = 6.8% a reduction of 1.7%
• Living below global poverty line (1.77 dollars a day) = 26.4% (11.3 million people), a reduction of 3.7% (Highest living below global poverty line = 78.4% in Karamoja and lowest = 4.5% in Kampala)
• Living below national poverty line (1 dollar a day) = 16/1% (7 million people), a reduction of 4.2% (Highest percentage of living below national poverty line = 74.2% in Karamoja and lowest = 1.1% in Kampala)
• Highest proportion of households among 40% bottom poorest = 88.5% in Karamoja

Education

• Government schools = 59.9%, a reduction of 2.8%; an increase in private school attendance.
• Net primary school enrolment = 78%, a reduction of 23% (Highest net enrolment = 87% in Teso and lowest = 44% in Karamoja)
• Primary school going age children (6-12 years of age) who had not attended school because their parents considered them too young = 32%
• Net secondary school enrolment = 23% a reduction of 3% (Highest secondary school enrolment = 56% in Kampala and lowest = 8% in Karamoja)
• Average cost on secondary education per learner = Ugx. 2.3 million shillings
• Learners who left school due to financial constraints =38%
• Children who did not attend school because it was considered expensive = 23%
• Literacy rate = 74%, a reduction of 2%

Health

• Population that suffered illness within a month prior to survey = 21% an increase of 2% (Highest population that suffered illness = 31.8% in Teso and lowest = 11.1% in Kigezi)
• Ill population that sought healthcare services = 82.4%, a reduction of 3.5%
• Ill population that sought healthcare services from private hospitals and clinics = 54%
• Ill population that sought healthcare services from government facilities = 27%
• Ill population that did not seek healthcare services because decided illness was mild = 47%
• Household out of pocket median monthly expenditure on health = Ugx 32,000 (Highest monthly out of pocket expenditure on health = Ugx 70,000 in Kampala and lowest = Ugx 17,000 in Karamoja)

Employment

• Working age population (14-64 years of age) in employment = 64%, an increase of 12%
• Working age population in subsistence agriculture = 36%, a reduction of 12%
• Women make up majority in subsistence agriculture = 44.2%
• Median monthly in-cash earnings of persons in paid employment = Ugx 200,000

Click here to access full UNHS Report 2023/2024