Skip to content
Ghana in NumbersGhana Statistical Service

Chapter 8

Progress on the SDGs

Selected Sustainable Development Goal indicators: poverty, hunger, maternal and child survival, urban slums, coastal plastics and bribery.

Sources
GSS MPI, FIES, GDHS, PHC, SDG Indicator Database
Latest
Q1–Q3 2025 (poverty, food insecurity)
SDG Dashboard

Multidimensionally poor

23.0%

Q1–Q3 2025 average

31.2% in 2022

Food insecurity

39.8%

Q1–Q3 2025 average

About 13.0 million people

Maternal mortality ratio

301per 100,000 live births

2021 census

Under-five mortality

40per 1,000 live births

2022 GDHS

80 in 2008

Urban residents in slums

30.8%

2021 census

SDG summary

Status compares the first and latest values shown on this page; lower is better for every indicator here. Maternal mortality compares census to census (2010 and 2021).

Human development and basic needs

Poverty fell steadily; hunger rose again in 2025 after three years of decline; mothers and young children are far more likely to survive than two decades ago.

§8.1 · pp. 97–102

Multidimensional poverty

% of the population that is multidimensionally poor

2022–2025SDG 1.2.2

  1. 31.2% per cent2022
  2. 28.0% per cent2023
  3. 25.2% per cent2024
  4. 23.0% per cent2025 (Q1–Q3 avg)

About 2 in 10 people (2025)

−8.2 ppsince 2022: improving, though nearly one person in four remained poor

Poverty measured across several deprivations, not income alone. A district MPI now covers all 261 districts (June 2024).

Source: GSS Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2022Q1–2025Q3 · Figure 8.1, p. 97

View data
Multidimensional poverty incidence
YearIncidence (%)
202231.2
202328.0
202425.2
2025 (Q1–Q3 avg)23.0

Food insecurity

Prevalence on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), %

2022–2025SDG 2.1.2

  1. 44.6% per cent2022
  2. 40.4% per cent2023
  3. 37.7% per cent2024
  4. 39.8% per cent2025 (Q1–Q3 avg)

About 4 in 10 people (2025): about 13.0 million people

+2.1 pp2025 against 2024: rose again after three years of decline

Access to food is measured directly; rising crop output does not by itself mean less hunger. 2025 is the Q1–Q3 average.

Source: GSS Food Insecurity Main Report 2025Q3 · Figure 8.5, p. 101

View data
Food insecurity prevalence
YearPrevalence (%)
202244.6
202340.4
202437.7
2025 (Q1–Q3 avg)39.8

Who is multidimensionally poor

% of each group, Q3 2025 (Q2 2025 in brackets)

Q3 2025SDG 1.2.2

  • 31.9%RuralQ2: 33.1%
  • 14.2%UrbanQ2: 15.3%
  • 21.9%Male-headedQ2: 23.6%
  • 22.0%Female-headedQ2: 22.0%

Almost one in three rural residents is poor, compared with one in seven in towns and cities.

Rural poverty is 2.2 times the urban rate. Female-headed households, slightly less likely to be poor than male-headed ones in Q2, are now level with them.

Source: GSS Multidimensional Poverty Report (2024Q1–2025Q3) · Figure 8.2, p. 98

View data
Multidimensional poverty by group
GroupQ2 2025 (%)Q3 2025 (%)
Rural33.131.9
Urban15.314.2
Male-headed23.621.9
Female-headed22.022.0

Multidimensional poverty by region

% of the population that is multidimensionally poor

Q3 2025SDG 1.2.2

Hover or focus on a region to read its value.

Multidimensionally poor, Q3 2025 (%)

  • 9.1%–19.4%
  • 19.4%–24.0%
  • 24.0%–32.2%
  • 32.2%–43.8%
  • 43.8%–57.2%

Regions ranked, highest first

  1. 1North East57.2%
  2. 2Savannah53.4%
  3. 3Oti46.8%
  4. 4Northern43.8%
  5. 5Upper East41.4%
  6. 6Upper West35.4%
  7. 7Bono East32.2%
  8. 8Western North32.0%
  9. 9Ahafo27.2%
  10. 10Central24.0%
  11. 11Volta23.1%
  12. 12Ashanti22.2%
  13. 13Eastern19.4%
  14. 14Western17.2%
  15. 15Bono17.2%
  16. 16Greater Accra9.1%
Ghana: 21.9%. More than half of people in North East and Savannah are poor, against fewer than one in ten in Greater Accra. Upper West saw the sharpest rise in the latest quarter, from about 25% to 35%. Bars are drawn on a 0–100% scale.

Source: GSS Multidimensional Poverty Report (2024Q1–2025Q3) · Figure 8.3, p. 98

View data
Multidimensional poverty by region, Q3 2025
RegionPoor (%)
North East57.2
Savannah53.4
Oti46.8
Northern43.8
Upper East41.4
Upper West35.4
Bono East32.2
Western North32.0
Ahafo27.2
Central24.0
Volta23.1
Ashanti22.2
Eastern19.4
Western17.2
Bono17.2
Greater Accra9.1

What drives multidimensional poverty in each region

% contribution of each dimension, Q3 2025 (each bar sums to 100%)

Q3 2025SDG 1.2.2

  • Health
  • Living conditions
  • Education
  • Employment
Lack of health insurance and poor nutrition account for the largest share almost everywhere, most of all in Ahafo. Housing, water, sanitation and energy weigh most in Western North, Oti and North East; a lack of work matters most in Greater Accra and Ashanti. The employment share is not labelled for six regions; there it is 100% minus the other three (marked * in the table).

Source: GSS Multidimensional Poverty Report (2024Q1–2025Q3) · Figure 8.4, p. 100

View data
Contribution to multidimensional poverty, Q3 2025
AreaHealth (%)Living conditions (%)Education (%)Employment (%)
Ghana40.933.813.012.3
North East43.139.014.23.7*
Savannah42.737.417.12.8*
Oti42.139.715.23.0*
Northern44.935.816.82.5*
Upper East36.837.412.213.6
Upper West41.735.413.99.0
Bono East44.637.314.33.8*
Western North41.239.912.96.1
Ahafo47.536.310.35.9*
Central41.731.39.917.1
Volta36.235.512.416.0
Ashanti37.828.512.021.7
Eastern43.735.410.810.1
Bono39.333.112.714.9
Western43.733.412.410.5
Greater Accra34.022.010.134.0

* Derived as 100 minus the three labelled shares.

Poverty and selected deprivations by quarter

% of the population that is poor and deprived in each indicator

2022 Q1–2025 Q3SDG 1.2.2

  • Poverty incidence (H)
  • No health insurance
  • No improved toilet
  • Overcrowding
  • School lag
  • Nutrition
The decline has not been steady: poverty peaked at 32.4% in Q2 2022, rose again to 28.5% in Q2 2024 and fell to 21.9% by Q3 2025. Fewer poor people now lack health insurance or a decent toilet and far fewer children fall behind in school, but overcrowded housing nearly doubled between Q2 and Q3 2025.

Source: GSS Multidimensional Poverty Report (2024Q1–2025Q3) · Table 8.1, p. 99

View data
Multidimensional poverty and selected deprivations, by quarter
QuarterIncidence (%)No health insurance (%)No improved toilet (%)Nutrition (%)Overcrowding (%)School lag (%)
2022 Q128.326.526.412.914.115.7
2022 Q232.430.727.014.415.818.5
2022 Q332.330.529.616.117.420.2
2022 Q431.729.628.415.516.319.5
2023 Q128.326.726.313.914.617.2
2023 Q227.726.025.613.213.317.8
2023 Q328.626.726.615.414.419.2
2023 Q427.426.125.014.114.816.4
2024 Q124.022.222.510.612.414.1
2024 Q228.526.026.015.114.119.4
2024 Q324.923.023.013.312.215.3
2024 Q424.923.323.113.412.515.5
2025 Q123.921.922.213.214.88.5
2025 Q223.121.321.615.811.47.9
2025 Q321.919.520.710.621.63.9

Inequality in consumption

Gini coefficient (0 = everyone consumes the same, 100 = maximum inequality)

2005/06–2016/17

  1. 41.9 Gini points2005/06
  2. 42.3 Gini points2012/13
  3. 43.0 Gini points2016/17

Rural, 2005/06 to 2016/1737.8 → 41.8 wider

Urban, 2005/06 to 2016/1738.3 → 37.9 narrower

Inequality rose, mainly in rural areas; growth between 2013 and 2017 mostly benefited the middle of the distribution.

The latest official measure (GLSS 7). Inequality was highest where poverty was deepest: Upper West (48.1) and Northern (45.3). In the Upper West the richest 10% consumed almost three times as much as the poorest 40%, against about 1.4 times in Greater Accra. Lower is more equal.

Source: GSS, GLSS 7 Poverty Trends in Ghana 2005–2017 · Table 8.2, p. 100

View data
Gini coefficient of consumption
MeasureValue
Ghana, 2005/0641.9
Ghana, 2012/1342.3
Ghana, 2016/1743.0
Rural, 2005/0637.8
Rural, 2016/1741.8
Urban, 2005/0638.3
Urban, 2016/1737.9
Upper West (highest), 2016/1748.1
Northern, 2016/1745.3
Greater Accra (lowest), 2016/1735.1

Maternal health and child survival

Maternal mortality ratio

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births

2007–2021SDG 3.1.1

  1. 580 Deaths per 100,000 live births2007 GMMR
  2. 485 Deaths per 100,000 live births2010 PHC
  3. 310 Deaths per 100,000 live births2017 GMMR
  4. 301 Deaths per 100,000 live births2021 PHC

−48.1%2007 to 2021; lower is better

Two sources with different methods: GMMR surveys (2007, 2017) and the census (PHC, 2010 and 2021). Compare like with like: the census ratio fell from 485 (2010) to 301 (2021).

Source: GSS Ghana Maternal Mortality Reports 2007 and 2017; PHC 2010 and 2021 · Figure 8.6, p. 102

View data
Maternal mortality ratio
YearDeaths per 100,000 live births
2007 GMMR580
2010 PHC485
2017 GMMR310
2021 PHC301

Under-five mortality

Deaths before age five per 1,000 live births

2003–2022 (GDHS)SDG 3.2.1

  1. 111 Deaths per 1,000 live births2003
  2. 80 Deaths per 1,000 live births2008
  3. 60 Deaths per 1,000 live births2014
  4. 40 Deaths per 1,000 live births2022

−64.0%2003 to 2022; lower is better

Survey years are unevenly spaced. Halved from 80 (2008) to 40 (2022).

Source: GSS GDHS 2003–2022 · Figure 8.7, p. 102

View data
Under-five mortality rate
YearDeaths per 1,000 live births
2003111
200880
201460
202240

Infant mortality

Deaths before the first birthday per 1,000 live births

2003–2022 (GDHS)SDG 3.2

  1. 64 Deaths per 1,000 live births2003
  2. 50 Deaths per 1,000 live births2008
  3. 41 Deaths per 1,000 live births2014
  4. 28 Deaths per 1,000 live births2022

−56.3%2003 to 2022; lower is better

Infant deaths occur before the first birthday; they are part of under-five deaths.

Source: GSS GDHS 2003–2022 · Figure 8.7, p. 102

View data
Infant mortality rate
YearDeaths per 1,000 live births
200364
200850
201441
202228

Neonatal mortality

Deaths in the first 28 days per 1,000 live births

2003–2022 (GDHS)SDG 3.2.2

  1. 43 Deaths per 1,000 live births2003
  2. 30 Deaths per 1,000 live births2008
  3. 29 Deaths per 1,000 live births2014
  4. 17 Deaths per 1,000 live births2022

−60.5%2003 to 2022; lower is better

Neonatal deaths are part of infant deaths.

Source: GSS GDHS 2003–2022 · Figure 8.7, p. 102

View data
Neonatal mortality rate
YearDeaths per 1,000 live births
200343
200830
201429
202217

Child survival: the three rates together

Deaths per 1,000 live births

2003–2022 (GDHS)SDG 3.2

  • Under five
  • Infant (under one)
  • Neonatal (first 28 days)
The age ranges overlap (neonatal ⊂ infant ⊂ under five), so the rates must not be added. Survey years are unevenly spaced. Under-five mortality halved from 80 (2008) to 40 (2022).

Source: GSS Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys 2003–2022 · Figure 8.7, p. 102

View data
Child mortality rates
GDHS yearUnder fiveInfantNeonatal
20031116443
2008805030
2014604129
2022402817

Cities, environment and sustainability

Almost a third of urban residents live in slums or informal settlements; coastal plastic remains far above 2016 levels.

§8.2 · pp. 103–104

Urban population in slums and informal settlements

Settlement-level map and national shares

2021 censusSDG 11.1.1

People: urban residents living in slums

30.8%

of people living in urban areas

Households: share living in slums

29.5%

1,404,266 households

About 3 in 10 urban residents live in slums or informal settlements.

The people share (urban residents) and the household share have different denominators and are not interchangeable. The map marks settlements, not whole regions: red clusters are slums and informal settlements, green other urban areas, blue water. The map is reproduced from the publication at its printed resolution.

Source: GSS 2021 PHC, Slums and Informal Settlements Thematic Report (2025) · Figure 8.8, p. 103

View data
Slums and informal settlements, 2021
MeasureValue
Urban residents living in slums (% of people)30.8
Households living in slums (% of households)29.5
Households living in slums (number)1,404,266.0

Plastic debris at a glance

Million plastic items per square kilometre (unit as printed)

2016–2020SDG 14.1.1

152.132020

Peak 179.76 in 2019; 4.5 times the 2016 level (33.58).

Worse than 2016

Unit as printed in Figure 8.9 and the text (p. 104). Lower is better.

Source: GSS/Ghana SDG Indicator Database, TIDES (Ocean Conservancy) · Figure 8.9, p. 104

Plastic debris density on the coast

Million plastic items per square kilometre

2016–2020SDG 14.1.1

A density, not tonnage. Peaked at 179.76 in 2019 and eased to 152.13 in 2020, still more than four times the 2016 level. 2018 is not reported. (The Executive Summary groups this with nutrient pollution; the indicator shown is plastic debris.)

Source: GSS/Ghana SDG Indicator Database, from the TIDES database (Ocean Conservancy) · Figure 8.9, p. 104

View data
Plastic debris density
YearMillion items per km²
201633.58
201756.88
2018n/a
2019179.76
2020152.13

n/a: not reported.

Institutions and inclusive decision-making

Bribery incidence fell, and more people feel heard by government. The two perception measures are governance context, not SDG indicators.

Table 2.1, p. 9; pp. 87–88

Giving gifts to public officials

% of people who gave a gift to a public official

2021, 2024 and 2025

  1. 26.7% per cent2021
  2. 18.4% per cent2024
  3. 16.8% per cent2025

About 2 in 10 people (2025)

Reported giving fell by 9.9 percentage points between 2021 and 2025: an improvement.

SDG 16.5.1 bribery incidence. Lower is better.

Source: GSS Ghana Corruption Survey (2022) and Governance Series Waves 2–3 · Figure 6.4, p. 87

View data
Gave a gift to a public official
YearGave a gift (%)
202126.7
202418.4
202516.8

No inclusiveness in decision-making

% who feel they have no say in government decisions

2013, 2024, 2025

  1. 59.9% per cent2013
  2. 42.4% per cent2024
  3. 29.7% per cent2025

About 3 in 10 people (2025)

−30.2 ppsince 2013; lower is better

A perception, not a measure of service delivery. The 2013 figure is cited in the text; Figure 6.5 shows 2024 and 2025.

Source: GSS Governance Series Wave 3 · Figure 6.5, p. 88

View data
No inclusiveness in decision-making
Year% of respondents
201359.9
202442.4
202529.7

Non-governance responsiveness

% who feel they cannot influence government action

2024, 2025

  1. 43.2% per cent2024
  2. 33.0% per cent2025

About 3 in 10 people (2025)

−10.2 ppsince 2024; lower is better

A perception, not a measure of service delivery. Only 2024 and 2025 are reported.

Source: GSS Governance Series Wave 3 · Figure 6.5, p. 88

View data
Non-governance responsiveness
Year% of respondents
202443.2
202533.0