Uganda vs Kenya — Country Comparison
Uganda
KenyaUganda and Kenya side by side: Kenya is the larger country (580,367 km² vs 241,550 km², roughly 2.4× the size), while Kenya has the bigger population (53.3 million vs 45.9 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Uganda | Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Kampala | Nairobi |
| Population | 45,905,417 | 53,330,978 |
| Area | 241,550 km² | 580,367 km² |
| Currency | Ugandan shilling | Kenyan shilling |
| Languages | English, Swahili | Swahili, English |
| Dialling code | +256 | +254 |
| Main timezone | UTC+03:00 | UTC+03:00 |
| Drives on the | Left | Left |
| Region | Eastern Africa | Eastern Africa |
| Emergency number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) | 999 (or 112) |
Key differences: Uganda vs Kenya
- Kenya has a slightly larger population than Uganda.
- Kenya is about 2.4 times larger by area.
- Uganda is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: UGX and KES.
- They share English, Swahili as an official language.
- They share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 670 km apart.
- Uganda and Kenya are in the same time zone (UTC+03:00).
Want the full picture for each country? See Uganda and Kenya, or compare their population pages: Uganda · Kenya.
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Uganda vs Kenya — FAQ
Which is bigger, Uganda or Kenya?
Kenya is bigger by area: 580,367 km² vs 241,550 km², roughly 2.4× the size of Uganda.
Is Uganda bigger than Kenya?
No — Kenya is larger at 580,367 km² vs 241,550 km² for Uganda.
Which has more people, Uganda or Kenya?
Kenya has the larger population: 53,330,978 (53.3 million) vs 45,905,417 (45.9 million).
How does the size of Uganda compare to Kenya?
Kenya (580,367 km²) is about 2.4× larger than Uganda (241,550 km²).
Do Uganda and Kenya use the same currency?
No — Uganda uses the Ugandan shilling and Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling.
Are Uganda and Kenya on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Africa.
What is the time difference between Uganda and Kenya?
Uganda and Kenya are in the same time zone (UTC+03:00).
Do Uganda and Kenya share an official language?
Yes — both share English, Swahili as an official language.
Do Uganda and Kenya share a border?
Yes — Uganda and Kenya share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Uganda or Kenya?
Uganda is more densely populated at roughly 190 people per km², compared to 92 for Kenya.
How far is Uganda from Kenya?
The distance between the geographic centres of Uganda and Kenya is roughly 670 km (420 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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