Number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana
Ghana: Number of people living in extreme poverty was 11.65 million people in 2016. ▬ Flat
Latest (2016)
11.65 million people
World rank
14th
of 120 countries
All-time high
13.91 million people
in 2005
All-time low
11.31 million people
in 1987
Years of data
7
1987–2016
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana, 1987–2016
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana is 11.65 million people, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana peaked at 13.91 million people in 2005 and was at its lowest, 11.31 million people, in 1987.
That places Ghana 14th out of 120 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 11.31 million people | — |
| 1988 | 11.48 million people | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 12.92 million people | +12.6% |
| 1998 | 12.27 million people | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 13.91 million people | +13.4% |
| 2012 | 11.38 million people | -18.2% |
| 2016 | 11.65 million people | +2.3% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 11.65 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.70 million people, 6.8× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 11.65 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.40 million people, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.40 million people | 11.31 million people | 11.48 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.59 million people | 12.27 million people | 12.92 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.91 million people | 13.91 million people | 13.91 million people | 1 |
| 2010s | 11.52 million people | 11.38 million people | 11.65 million people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 11 Malawi 14.47 million people compare
- 12 Zambia 14.44 million people compare
- 13 Philippines 13.25 million people compare
- 15 Indonesia 11.53 million people compare
- 16 South Africa 11.00 million people compare
- 17 Bangladesh 10.01 million people compare
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 number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana was 11.65 million people in 2016, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 13.91 million people in 2005.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.31 million people in 1987.
- How does Ghana rank for number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Ghana ranks 14th out of 120 countries with data for 2016.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Number of people living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.