International tourist departures in Uganda
Uganda: International tourist departures was 331,000 departures in 2021. ▲ Rising
International tourist departures in Uganda, 1997–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in departures.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international tourist departures in Uganda is 331,000 departures, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 68.0% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourist departures in Uganda peaked at 568,000 departures in 2016 and was at its lowest, 148,000 departures, in 1997.
That places Uganda 88th out of 112 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
International tourist departures in Uganda, year by year
| Year | departures | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 148,000 departures | — |
| 1998 | 241,000 departures | +62.8% |
| 1999 | 327,000 departures | +35.7% |
| 2000 | 153,000 departures | -53.2% |
| 2001 | 152,000 departures | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 184,000 departures | +21.1% |
| 2003 | 189,000 departures | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 231,000 departures | +22.2% |
| 2005 | 189,000 departures | -18.2% |
| 2006 | 254,000 departures | +34.4% |
| 2007 | 272,000 departures | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 337,000 departures | +23.9% |
| 2009 | 311,000 departures | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 324,000 departures | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 367,000 departures | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 469,000 departures | +27.8% |
| 2013 | 471,000 departures | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 511,000 departures | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 523,000 departures | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 568,000 departures | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 563,000 departures | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 488,000 departures | -13.3% |
| 2020 | 197,000 departures | -59.6% |
| 2021 | 331,000 departures | +68.0% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 331,000 departures is above the median for low income countries, which is 38,000 departures, 8.7× the median. (5 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 331,000 departures is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 194,550 departures, 1.7× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 238,667 departures | 148,000 departures | 327,000 departures | 3 |
| 2000s | 227,200 departures | 152,000 departures | 337,000 departures | 10 |
| 2010s | 476,000 departures | 324,000 departures | 568,000 departures | 9 |
| 2020s | 264,000 departures | 197,000 departures | 331,000 departures | 2 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More reference data data for Uganda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4214 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 29.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 42.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.29 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourist departures in Uganda?
- International tourist departures in Uganda was 331,000 departures in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest international tourist departures recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 568,000 departures in 2016.
- What is the lowest international tourist departures recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 148,000 departures in 1997.
- How does Uganda rank for international tourist departures?
- Uganda ranks 88th out of 112 countries with data for 2021.
- Is international tourist departures rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of International tourist departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of trips by country's residents who travel abroad and stay overnight.