Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ghana
Ghana: Total shortfall from extreme poverty was 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2016. ▼ Falling
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ghana, 1987–2016
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ghana is 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2016.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ghana peaked at 6.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1991 and was at its lowest, 4.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2012.
Ghana ranks 12th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ghana, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 5.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1988 | 5.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 6.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +23.1% |
| 1998 | 6.10 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -12.8% |
| 2005 | 6.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.3% |
| 2012 | 4.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -29.1% |
| 2016 | 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.7% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 746.36 million international-$ in 2021 prices, 6.9× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.29 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.6× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.65 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.54 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.10 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.60 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 1 |
| 2010s | 4.93 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 9 Zambia 8.77 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 10 Kenya 8.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 11 Malawi 7.10 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 13 Niger 5.08 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 14 Burundi 4.50 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 15 South Africa 3.52 billion international-$ in 2021 prices 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 total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ghana?
- Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Ghana was 5.18 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2016, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 6.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1991.
- What is the lowest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.68 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2012.
- How does Ghana rank for total shortfall from extreme poverty?
- Ghana ranks 12th out of 120 countries with data for 2016.
- Is total shortfall from extreme poverty rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. 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 Total shortfall from extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This is the amount of money that would be theoretically needed to lift the income or consumption of all people in poverty up to $3 per day. However, this is not a measure of the actual cost of eliminating poverty, since it does not take into account the costs involved in making the necessary transfers nor any changes in behavior they would bring about.