Total natural resource rents in Uganda
Uganda: Total natural resource rents was 7.5% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Total natural resource rents in Uganda, 1970–2021
Source: The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2021, total natural resource rents in Uganda stood at 7.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total natural resource rents in Uganda peaked at 44.7% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 1971.
Uganda ranks 60th of 211 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.
Total natural resource rents in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.8% | — |
| 1971 | 6.7% | -24.3% |
| 1972 | 7.2% | +7.4% |
| 1973 | 10.6% | +48.4% |
| 1974 | 9.7% | -8.5% |
| 1975 | 10.9% | +12.2% |
| 1976 | 9.8% | -10.1% |
| 1977 | 14.4% | +46.6% |
| 1978 | 18.5% | +28.9% |
| 1979 | 20.9% | +12.9% |
| 1980 | 44.7% | +113.7% |
| 1981 | 36.7% | -17.7% |
| 1982 | 31.2% | -15.0% |
| 1983 | 20.1% | -35.7% |
| 1984 | 11.5% | -42.9% |
| 1985 | 8.9% | -22.1% |
| 1986 | 12.7% | +42.6% |
| 1987 | 7.8% | -38.9% |
| 1988 | 8.2% | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 10.3% | +26.6% |
| 1990 | 15.8% | +53.1% |
| 1991 | 20.6% | +30.3% |
| 1992 | 25.2% | +22.5% |
| 1993 | 19.5% | -22.7% |
| 1994 | 19.0% | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 19.5% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 18.6% | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 16.9% | -9.3% |
| 1998 | 16.8% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | -25.8% |
| 2000 | 12.0% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 12.5% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 14.2% | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 20.9% | +46.6% |
| 2004 | 15.2% | -27.3% |
| 2005 | 13.9% | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 13.3% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 16.2% | +22.0% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 9.5% | -42.4% |
| 2010 | 8.1% | -14.4% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 10.7% | +16.4% |
| 2013 | 10.7% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 10.3% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 10.8% | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 12.7% | +18.0% |
| 2017 | 12.1% | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 8.4% | -30.8% |
| 2019 | 7.4% | -11.9% |
| 2020 | 7.6% | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | -1.2% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 7.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 10.3%, 72% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 7.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.7%, 97% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.7% | 6.7% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.2% | 7.8% | 44.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.4% | 12.5% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.4% | 9.5% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 7.4% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.6% | 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 total natural resource rents in Uganda?
- Total natural resource rents in Uganda was 7.5% in 2021, according to The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total natural resource rents recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 44.7% in 1980.
- What is the lowest total natural resource rents recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 1971.
- How does Uganda rank for total natural resource rents?
- Uganda ranks 60th out of 211 countries with data for 2021.
- Is total natural resource rents rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda data come from?
- The figures come from The Changing Wealth of Nations, World Bank staff estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total natural resource rents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Natural resources rents are estimated as the difference between the price of a commodity and the average cost of producing it. Total natural resources rents are the sum of oil rents, natural gas rents, coal rents, mineral rents, and forest rents.