Democracy Index in Uganda
Uganda: Democracy Index was -1 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Uganda, 1962–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for democracy index in Uganda is -1, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Uganda peaked at 7 in 1962 and was at its lowest, -7, in 1969.
Uganda ranks 124th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy Index in Uganda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 7 | — |
| 1963 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1967 | -6 | — |
| 1968 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -7 | +16.7% |
| 1970 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 3 | -142.9% |
| 1981 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1986 | -7 | — |
| 1987 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -4 | -42.9% |
| 1994 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -1 | -75.0% |
| 2006 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -1 | -0.0% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's -1 is below the median for low income countries, which is 1. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's -1 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.5. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.12 | -7 | 7 | 8 |
| 1970s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 9 |
| 1980s | -1.3 | -7 | 3 | 10 |
| 1990s | -4.9 | -7 | -4 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.5 | -4 | -1 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1 | -1 | -1 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More social development data for Uganda
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.94 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12,792 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12,792 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0377 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Uganda?
- Democracy index in Uganda was -1 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy index recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1962.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was -7 in 1969.
- How does Uganda rank for democracy index?
- Uganda ranks 124th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from -10 to 10 (fully democratic).