Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ghana
Ghana: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 57.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ghana, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ghana is 57.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ghana peaked at 71.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 57.4%, in 2025.
That places Ghana 109th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 71.3% | — |
| 1991 | 71.4% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 71.2% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 71.1% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 71.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 70.9% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 70.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 70.7% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 70.6% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 70.5% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 70.4% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 70.3% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 70.2% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 70.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 69.9% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 69.8% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 69.7% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 69.6% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 69.5% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 69.3% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 69.2% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 69.1% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 68.9% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 68.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 67.8% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 66.8% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 65.7% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 64.7% | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 63.3% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 61.9% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 59.8% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 58.7% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 57.5% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 57.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 57.8% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 57.4% | -0.8% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 57.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 51.4%, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 57.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.0%, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.0% | 70.5% | 71.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.9% | 69.3% | 70.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.6% | 61.9% | 69.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.1% | 57.4% | 59.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ghana?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Ghana was 57.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 71.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.4% in 2025.
- How does Ghana rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Ghana ranks 109th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.