Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Ghana
Ghana: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 64.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Ghana, 1960–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Ghana is 64.4%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Ghana peaked at 78.7% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 45.8%, in 1984.
That places Ghana 33rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 56.7% | — |
| 1970 | 63.6% | +12.2% |
| 1984 | 45.8% | -27.9% |
| 1989 | 61.4% | +34.0% |
| 1991 | 76.5% | +24.7% |
| 1992 | 77.8% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 78.7% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 78.7% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 72.6% | -7.7% |
| 2006 | 67.1% | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 69.5% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 73.7% | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 65.5% | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 69.5% | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 52.4% | -24.6% |
| 2022 | 62.1% | +18.5% |
| 2023 | 65.6% | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 64.4% | -1.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 64.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 1.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 64.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 56.7% | 56.7% | 56.7% | 1 |
| 1970s | 63.6% | 63.6% | 63.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 53.6% | 45.8% | 61.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 77.9% | 76.5% | 78.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 69.9% | 67.1% | 72.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 69.5% | 65.5% | 73.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 61.1% | 52.4% | 65.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 30 Botswana 65.2% compare
- 31 Sweden 64.6% compare
- 32 Saint Kitts and Nevis 64.4% compare
- 34 Netherlands 64.4% compare
- 35 Kenya 64.1% compare
- 36 Sierra Leone 63.9% compare
More work & labour data for Ghana
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1512 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1464 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1562 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.2734 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 37,518 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 13,752 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 34,429 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 33,119 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 67,548 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Ghana?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Ghana was 64.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 78.7% in 1998.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.8% in 1984.
- How does Ghana rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Ghana ranks 33rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.