Income share held by highest 20% in Ghana
Ghana: Income share held by highest 20% was 48.6% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Income share held by highest 20% in Ghana, 1987–2016
Source: World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
Analysis
The most recent figure for income share held by highest 20% in Ghana is 48.6%, measured in 2016. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, income share held by highest 20% in Ghana peaked at 48.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 42.7%, in 1987.
Ghana ranks 18th of 123 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Income share held by highest 20% in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 42.7% | — |
| 1988 | 43.4% | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 45.5% | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 46.2% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 48.6% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 48.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 48.6% | +0.6% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 48.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43.1%, 1.1× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 48.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 45.2%, 1.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.0% | 42.7% | 43.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 45.9% | 45.5% | 46.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 48.6% | 48.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 48.5% | 48.3% | 48.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More poverty & inequality data for Ghana
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 3.4 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,688 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 10.43 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 13.54 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 13.5% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is income share held by highest 20% in Ghana?
- Income share held by highest 20% in Ghana was 48.6% in 2016, according to World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ.
- What is the highest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 48.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest income share held by highest 20% recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.7% in 1987.
- How does Ghana rank for income share held by highest 20%?
- Ghana ranks 18th out of 123 countries with data for 2016.
- Is income share held by highest 20% rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income econ, published as part of Income share held by highest 20%. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles. Percentage shares by quintile may not sum to 100 because of rounding.