Female labor force participation rate in Ghana

Ghana: Female labor force participation rate was 64.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
64.4%
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
33rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
78.7%
in 1998
All-time low
45.8%
in 1984
Years of data
18
1960–2024

Female labor force participation rate in Ghana, 1960–2024

0204060801960199220241960: 56.7 %1970: 63.6 %1984: 45.8 %1989: 61.4 %1991: 76.5 %1992: 77.8 %1998: 78.7 %1999: 78.7 %2000: 72.6 %2006: 67.1 %2010: 69.5 %2013: 73.7 %2015: 65.5 %2017: 69.5 %2021: 52.4 %2022: 62.1 %2023: 65.6 %2024: 64.4 %

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 in Ghana is 64.4%, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 30 Botswana 65.2% compare
  2. 31 Sweden 64.6% compare
  3. 32 Saint Kitts and Nevis 64.4% compare
  4. 34 Netherlands 64.4% compare
  5. 35 Kenya 64.1% compare
  6. 36 Sierra Leone 63.9% compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More work & labour data for Ghana

All data for Ghana →

Frequently asked questions

What is female labor force participation rate in Ghana?
Female labor force participation rate 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 recorded in Ghana?
The highest recorded value was 78.7% in 1998.
What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Ghana?
The lowest recorded value was 45.8% in 1984.
How does Ghana rank for female labor force participation rate?
Ghana ranks 33rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
Is female labor force participation rate 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Female labor force participation rate
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,756 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.