Updated
Overview
Kenya has 12% more people than Uganda: 57.53 million against 51.38 million (2025).
Kenya's economy is 2.2 times the size of Uganda's, at $135.94B versus $61.99B.
Per person, Kenya is the wealthier of the two: $2,363 against $1,206 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kenya | Uganda | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $135.94B | $61.99B | 2025 | $124.50B / $53.65B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $2,363 | $1,206 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.6% | Higher: 6.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 4.1% | Lower: 3.6% | 2025 | 4.5% / 3.3% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | Lower: 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 34 | 35 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $137 | Higher: $161 | 2019 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $119 | $35 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 57.53 million | 51.38 million | 2025 | 55.75 million / 50.86 million |
| Population growth | 1.9% | 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.0 yrs | 16.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.12 | 4.06 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 63.8 yrs | Higher: 68.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 32% | 32% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 35% | 9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 580,367 km² | 241,550 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 99.1/km² | 212.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 21 Mt | Lower: 6.33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.4 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.23B | $1.12B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 24,000 | 46,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Uganda is growing faster: 6.3% annual GDP growth versus 4.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 4.1% in Kenya and 3.6% in Uganda.
Average monthly earnings favour Uganda: $161 against $137 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Uganda is the younger society: median age 16.9 versus 20.0 years.
Life expectancy is 4.7 years longer in Uganda (68.5 vs 63.8).
Internet adoption is higher in Kenya (35% vs 9% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Kenya is 2.4 times the size of Uganda: 580,367 km² versus 241,550 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Uganda is far more densely settled: 213 people per km² against 99.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $1.23B (Kenya) and $1.12B (Uganda).
Relative to its economy, Uganda carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Uganda fields the larger armed forces: 46,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kenya bigger than Uganda?
- Kenya is larger by land area. Kenya covers 580,367 km² while Uganda covers 241,550 km², so Kenya is 2.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kenya or Uganda?
- Kenya has the larger population: 57.53 million versus 51.38 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kenya richer than Uganda?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kenya is richer: $2,363 against $1,206. Total GDP tells the same story: $135.94B for Kenya versus $61.99B for Uganda.
- Who spends more on their military, Kenya or Uganda?
- Kenya spends more: $1.23B versus $1.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).