Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Ghana

Ghana: Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index was 39.0% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
39.0%
World rank
13th
of 120 countries
All-time high
80.4%
in 1991
All-time low
39.0%
in 2016
Years of data
7
1987–2016

Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Ghana, 1987–2016

0204060801987200120161987: 78.2 %1988: 77.4 %1991: 80.4 %1998: 65.3 %2005: 60.9 %2012: 41.8 %2016: 39 %

Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2016, share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Ghana stood at 39.0%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.

The figure is down 35.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Ghana peaked at 80.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 39.0%, in 2016.

That places Ghana 13th out of 120 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 77.8% 77.4% 78.2% 2
1990s 72.9% 65.3% 80.4% 2
2000s 60.9% 60.9% 60.9% 1
2010s 40.4% 39.0% 41.8% 2

Countries ranked near Ghana

  1. 10 Burkina Faso 42.1% compare
  2. 11 Nigeria 41.8% compare
  3. 12 Guinea-Bissau 39.9% compare
  4. 14 Ethiopia 38.6% compare
  5. 15 Rwanda 38.6% compare
  6. 16 Mali 36.1% compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Ghana

All data for Ghana →

Frequently asked questions

What is share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Ghana?
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Ghana was 39.0% in 2016, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Ghana?
The highest recorded value was 80.4% in 1991.
What is the lowest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Ghana?
The lowest recorded value was 39.0% in 2016.
How does Ghana rank for share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index?
Ghana ranks 13th out of 120 countries with data for 2016.
Is share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index rising or falling in Ghana?
Over the last ten years it is down 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ghana data come from?
The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index
Unit
%
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,148 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.