The international poverty rate in Ghana as of 2021 was forecast at 11.3 percent, considering the 2011 poverty line set at 1.90 U.S. dollars. The same rate was forecast for 2022, which represented a slight increase compared to 2019, when the poverty rate was measured at 11.1 percent. Overall, no significant change in the population’s percentage living on up to 1.90 U.S. dollars per day was expected in the years following 2019. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on economic activities have contributed to the slowly-improving poverty levels registered in the country since that year.

As of 2025, ** percent of the population in Ghana was estimaed to live in extreme poverty, with the poverty threshold at 2.15 U.S. dollars a day. The share was equivalent to over *** million people. In 2030, the extreme poverty rate is projected to further decrease to ** percent.

As of 2024, some 6.9 million people in Ghana lived in extreme poverty, with the poverty threshold at 2.15 U.S. dollars per day. This stood as an increase from the previous year when roughly 6.8 million people lived in the said state of poverty. In 2026, around 6.7 million Ghanaians are expected to live on a maximum of 2.15 U.S. dollars daily.

Poverty in the country is segregated

Indeed, poverty figures do not considerably vary when considering men and women apart. In 2024, around 3.5 million men lived in extreme poverty in Ghana, while the count reached roughly 3.3 million for women. On the other hand, in distinguishing the state of extreme poverty among rural and urban dwellers, the difference is striking, even when based on the previously set poverty line of 1.90 U.S. dollars per day. Overall, 1.1 percent of the world's population in extreme poverty lived in Ghana as of 2024.

Ghana's Private Wealth Position in Africa

Ghana is one of the African countries with the highest private wealth concentration, ranking 6th after Kenya as of 2021. That year, the country's total private wealth amounted to 59 billion U.S. dollars, corresponding to around 1,900 U.S. dollars per capita. Between 2011 and 2021, the total wealth held by individuals in Ghana increased, representing a higher growth in comparison to other African countries save five. Overall, the nation ranks 9th in Africa in terms of countries with high net-worth individuals.

Ghana’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which complements the monetary poverty by providing an assessment of deprivation of basic survival needs.

In 2023, around **** million people in Ghana lived in extreme poverty, the majority in rural areas. The count of people living on less than **** U.S. dollars a day in rural regions reached around *** million, while ******* extremely poor people were located in urban areas. Overall, within the period examined, the poverty incidence remained above *********** in rural communities and between *** thousand and *** thousand in urban areas.

Poverty rate at national poverty line of Ghana slipped by 3.31% from 24.2 % in 2012 to 23.4 % in 2016. Since the 24.14% drop in 2012, poverty rate at national poverty line declined by 3.31% in 2016. National poverty rate is the percentage of the population living below the national poverty line. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys.

Historical dataset showing Ghana poverty rate by year from 1987 to 2016.

GH: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data was reported at 3.500 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.200 % for 2005. GH: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 13.050 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.700 % in 1991 and a record low of 3.500 % in 2012. GH: Poverty Gap at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Poverty gap at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $1.90 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Poverty rate at $1.9 a day of Ghana slumped by 6.70% from 41.80 % in 2012 to 39.00 % in 2016. Since the 3.88% rise in 1991, poverty rate at $1.9 a day sank by 51.49% in 2016. Population below $1.9 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.9 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Ghana GH: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data was reported at 0.247 NA in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.236 NA for 2016. Ghana GH: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.241 NA from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2018, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.298 NA in 2011 and a record low of 0.179 NA in 2010. Ghana GH: Multidimensional Poverty Index: scale 0-1 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

As of 2023, nearly ************* people in Ghana lived in extreme poverty, with the poverty threshold at **** U.S. dollars a day. This stood as a decrease from the previous year, when over ************* people lived in the said state of poverty. The headcount was expected to keep the declining trend by 2025, when around *********** Ghanaians might live on a maximum of **** U.S. dollars per day.

Poverty rate at $3.2 a day of Ghana dropped by 5.85% from 59.80 % in 2012 to 56.30 % in 2016. Since the 0.78% upward trend in 1991, poverty rate at $3.2 a day plummeted by 37.65% in 2016. Population below $3.1 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.1 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Ghana GH: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 25.200 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25.700 % for 2012. Ghana GH: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 55.000 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2016, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 64.200 % in 1991 and a record low of 25.200 % in 2016. Ghana GH: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $2.15 a day at 2017 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.;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 economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

In 2024, an estimated 6.9 million people in Ghana lived in extreme poverty, the majority being the male population. The number of men in the country living on less than 2.15 U.S. dollars a day reached around 3.5 million, while the count was at 3.3 million for women. Overall, 1.1 percent of the global population in extreme poverty was found in Ghana as of 2024.

Poverty ratio at $1.9 a day of Ghana jumped by 13.39% from 11.2 % in 2012 to 12.7 % in 2016. Since the 31.58% drop in 2005, poverty ratio at $1.9 a day sank by 45.73% in 2016. Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Ghana GH: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data was reported at 26.200 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 39.100 % for 2005. Ghana GH: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 51.650 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 58.500 % in 1991 and a record low of 26.200 % in 2012. Ghana GH: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank: Poverty. Poverty gap at $5.50 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $5.50 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Poverty gap at $1.9 a day of Ghana rocketed by 37.50% from 3.2 % in 2012 to 4.4 % in 2016. Since the 33.91% drop in 2005, poverty gap at $1.9 a day sank by 42.11% in 2016. Poverty gap at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $1.90 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Ghana GH: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 12.000 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 24.500 % for 2005. Ghana GH: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 39.000 % from Dec 1987 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 49.800 % in 1991 and a record low of 12.000 % in 2012. Ghana GH: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $1.90 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank: Poverty. Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

This report consists of four chapters. Chapter one profiles the trends in household consumption and poverty rates, and in the characteristics of the poor observed between 1991 and 2012. Descriptive statistics of consumption and selected poverty indexes are presented and a profile of the characteristics of the poor is given. The chapter concludes with an analysis of vulnerability. Chapter two uses descriptive and econometric techniques to identify the drivers of Ghana’s success over the last two decades. Chapter three examines the main challenges Ghana continues to face: widening inequalities, a persistent spatial divide, and the deteriorating macroeconomic environment. Chapter four provides a roadmap for policy action to effectively address these challenges and consolidate Ghana’s success as a middle-income economy.

Number of poor at $1.9 a day of Ghana rocketed by 23.33% from 3.0 million persons in 2012 to 3.7 million persons in 2016. Since the 17.46% drop in 2005, number of poor at $1.9 a day sank by 28.85% in 2016. Number of people, in millions, living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 PPP is calculated by multiplying the poverty rate and the population. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.