Uganda Facts
Uganda suffered terribly under a brutal civil war in the 1970s and 1980s. Although there are still major insecurity problems in Northern Uganda the country has made strides since then in economic and social development. The government has invested in health and education, and is internationally recognized for its success in fighting AIDS. However, Uganda is dependant on international assistance to achieve its social goals. Quality of education is poor, disadvantaged children are still out of school, infant mortality and maternal mortality are higher than neighboring African countries.
- Uganda has over one million AIDS orphans, and the number is growing rapidly.
- One estimate predicts Uganda's pop. to be
20 million in 2015, rather than the 32 million formerly projected, the number of orphaned children
would rise sharply in the 1990s and after.
- Population: 28.8 million (2005)
- Refugees and Internally Displaced Population (IDP): 1.7 million to more than 2 million (2006)
- Life expectancy at birth (years): Male 51, Female 53 (2006)
- HIV/AIDS prevalence (ages 15-49): 6.7% (2005)
- Risk of malaria (total population): 90% (2002)
- Pregnant women sleeping under mosquito net: 16.3% (2001)
- Literacy rate (age 15 and over that can read and write): 69.9%, Male 79.5%, Female 60.4% (2003)
- Primary school completion: 57.1% (2004)
- Fertility rate (total birth per woman): 6.71 children (2006)
- Maternal mortality (chance of dying giving birth): 1 in 13 (2000)
- Births attended by a skilled health staff: 38% (2005)