EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
DR Congo vs Uganda
Side-by-side comparison of DR Congo and Uganda from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
DR Congo
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
In short
Uganda scores 32.6 in the NationsTree Index (154th in the world) and DR Congo scores 22.0 (183rd), a gap of 10.6 points. Their trees are 7.5 m and 7.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
DR Congo has 2.2 times the population of Uganda. DR Congo is 9.7 times larger than Uganda by land area. The economy of DR Congo is 21% larger than that of Uganda (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: DR Congo 112.8 million and Uganda 51.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,488 in Uganda and $1,920 in DR Congo (2025, international dollars). People in Uganda live on average 6.4 years longer (68.5 vs 62.1 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, DR Congo ranks higher in the world on 10 and Uganda on 22. DR Congo is clearly stronger in natural resources, environment & energy and economy. Uganda is clearly stronger in tourism and institutions & safety.
As a nation, DR Congo is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Uganda (since 1962). Over the last five years Uganda improved faster (direction score 73 vs 35 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between DR Congo and Uganda.
DR Congobetter
14.9%
3rd of 55
Uganda
54.4%
28th of 55
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
DR Congobetter
8,789
52nd of 183
Uganda
824
135th of 183
DPT immunizationSociety & health
DR Congo
65%
178th of 193
Ugandabetter
91%
93rd of 193
Government budget balanceEconomy
DR Congobetter
-2.4%
88th of 192
Uganda
-6.6%
170th of 192
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
DR Congo
18.1
199th of 205
Ugandabetter
46.0
133rd of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
DR Congo overtook Uganda in GDP (PPP) in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Uganda overtook DR Congo in the NationsTree Index in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Uganda overtook DR Congo in life expectancy in 2004 and has stayed ahead since.
Uganda overtook DR Congo in GDP per person (PPP) in 1993 and has stayed ahead since.
DR Congo has been ahead of Uganda in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
DR CongoUganda All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | DR Congo | Uganda |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 2,345,41011th/216 · 2024 | 241,55180th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,267,05011th/216 · 2024 | 200,52085th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 112.8 m15th/217 · 2025 | 51.4 m31st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 3.20%10th/217 · 2025 | 2.70%21st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 48.2155th/216 · 2024 | 249.455th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 45.1%161st/217 · 2025 | 31.9%192nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 45.9%5th/217 · 2025 | 43.1%10th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.1%191st/217 · 2025 | 2.2%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $91.03 bn81st/210 · 2025 | $61.99 bn89th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $216.62 bn78th/199 · 2025 | $179.21 bn83rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $185.11 bn77th/199 · 2025 | $153.15 bn83rd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $807202nd/210 · 2025 | $1,206189th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $1,920194th/199 · 2025 | $3,488182nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $720193rd/201 · 2025 | $1,120182nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.8%39th/210 · 2025 | 6.3%28th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.9%2016 | 3.6%108th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.4%73rd/187 · 2025 | 2.7%31st/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 14.9%3rd/55 · 2022 | 54.4%28th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 20.4%19th/189 · 2025 | 53.2%96th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.4%88th/192 · 2025 | -6.6%170th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.9%76th/197 · 2025 | 26.1%18th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 39.7%15th/200 · 2025 | 24.3%93rd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.9%124th/192 · 2025 | 14.5%49th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 48.0%156th/200 · 2025 | 42.1%178th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $39.52 bn74th/182 · 2025 | $13.29 bn102nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $39.98 bn70th/182 · 2025 | $17.83 bn97th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 43.4%68th/183 · 2025 | 21.4%140th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 43.9%91st/183 · 2025 | 28.8%136th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 87.3%83rd/183 · 2025 | 50.2%143rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.8%106th/170 · 2024 | 2.3%98th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 15.4%117th/171 · 2024 | 14.3%120th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%158th/171 · 2024 | 39.3%42nd/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 76.5%1st/171 · 2024 | 0.7%142nd/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.2%159th/168 · 2023 | 1.9%132nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -3.7%124th/191 · 2025 | -5.1%139th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.1%99th/196 · 2025 | 5.4%40th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 38.8%3rd/209 · 2021 | 7.5%57th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.65%51st/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 28.81%1st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 9.36%7th/209 · 2021 | 7.48%9th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 7.3%120th/206 · 2024 | 43.6%11th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 8,78952nd/183 · 2022 | 824135th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 351,000136th/194 · 2016 | 473,000128th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $60.5 m151st/175 · 2018 | $518.0 m97th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.4%163rd/168 · 2018 | 9.2%62nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 424,00081st/107 · 2016 | 568,00074th/107 · 2016 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 62.1205th/217 · 2024 | 68.5166th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 89.7188th/196 · 2024 | 48.7166th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.21146th/174 · 2022 | 0.19147th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.82006 | 0.52010 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 65%178th/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 54.0%108th/153 · 2023 | 23.1%137th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 55.5%150th/173 · 2023 | 24.1%2007 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 11.1%2012 | 1.5%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.1%178th/217 · 2025 | 4.1%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.7%163rd/193 · 2023 | 4.2%150th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 68.5%82nd/98 · 2023 | 77.0%70th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 6.4%2020 | 4.6%2014 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.522171st/193 · 2023 | 0.582157th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 44.72020 | 38.275th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 85.3%2020 | 54.4%103rd/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 22.5%209th/215 · 2024 | 55.3%192nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 11.9%146th/150 · 2024 | 18.1%141st/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 13.1%135th/144 · 2024 | 20.4%126th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 19.7%176th/186 · 2024 | 8.9%185th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 59196th/210 · 2024 | 83165th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.0201st/208 · 2024 | 0.2189th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 | 2.19139th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 3,64135th/82 · 2021 | 2592002 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.2 m94th/161 · 2023 | 21,650152nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.0611th/203 · 2024 | 0.1721st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 96.3%1st/212 · 2021 | 90.9%5th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 35.8170th/200 · 2023 | 31.2155th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 61.5%29th/214 · 2024 | 11.9%159th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 402129th/149 · 2024 | 503119th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 18.1199th/205 · 2025 | 46.0133rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 18.0196th/207 · 2025 | 25.8177th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 31.2197th/207 · 2025 | 47.6147th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 28.3203rd/207 · 2025 | 50.4173rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 32.9189th/205 · 2025 | 45.3143rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 35.6165th/205 · 2025 | 39.2152nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 9.0114th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $1.23 bn80th/156 · 2025 | $1.30 bn79th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%94th/156 · 2025 | 2.0%67th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.1%41st/154 · 2025 | 9.0%35th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 134,00046th/170 · 2020 | 46,00073rd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.41%129th/168 · 2020 | 0.24%151st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 44.0 m67th/163 · 2025 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 22.0 m1997 | 4.0 m2016 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.41%2015 | 0.44%64th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 7275th/137 · 2020 | 2290th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 243122nd/197 · 2023 | 1,42482nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, DR Congo or Uganda?
DR Congo has the larger population: 112.8 m (2025) compared with 51.4 m for Uganda (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, DR Congo or Uganda?
DR Congo is larger: 2,345,410 km² (2024) compared with 241,551 km² for Uganda (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, DR Congo or Uganda?
DR Congo has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $216.62 bn intl. (2025) compared with $179.21 bn intl. for Uganda (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, DR Congo or Uganda?
Uganda has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,488 intl. (2025) compared with $1,920 intl. for DR Congo (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in DR Congo or Uganda?
Uganda has the higher life expectancy at birth: 68.5 years (2024) compared with 62.1 years for DR Congo (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, DR Congo or Uganda?
Uganda spends more on the military: $1.30 bn (2025) compared with $1.23 bn for DR Congo (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, DR Congo or Uganda?
Uganda: 32.6 points (154th in the world); DR Congo: 22.0 points (183rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Cameroon
Côte d'Ivoire
Ghana
SudanSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). DR Congo vs Uganda — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/dr-congo-vs-uganda. Data as of 26 October 2026.