Changes in poverty in Uganda, 1992-1997

Analysis of five nationally representative household surveys from Uganda show a fall in poverty from 1992-1997. Using an absolute poverty line calculated following Ravallion and Bidani, we find 56% of Ugandans were poor in 1992 falling to 44% in 1997/8. The conclusion that poverty fell is robust to the choice of poverty measure and poverty line. General growth accounts for most of the fall in poverty, although there was also an improvement in the progressivity of the distribution. Up to 1995/96, half of the fall in poverty was attributable to coffee-growing households. Poverty increased in households with non-working heads.