Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in Ghana
Ghana: Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) was 13.6% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in Ghana, 1987–2016
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 13.6% for share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 45.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in Ghana peaked at 42.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 12.3%, in 2012.
That places Ghana 25th out of 119 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 34.5% | — |
| 1988 | 34.0% | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 42.2% | +24.3% |
| 1998 | 34.5% | -18.2% |
| 2005 | 24.8% | -28.0% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | -50.7% |
| 2016 | 13.6% | +11.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 13.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.7%, 2.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 13.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 28.3%, 48% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34.2% | 34.0% | 34.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 38.4% | 34.5% | 42.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 24.8% | 24.8% | 24.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.9% | 12.3% | 13.6% | 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 share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in Ghana?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) in Ghana was 13.6% in 2016, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 42.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.3% in 2012.
- How does Ghana rank for share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices)?
- Ghana ranks 25th out of 119 countries with data for 2016.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices) rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.2%. 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 (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty (2011 prices). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $1.90 per day.