Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana
Ghana: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 65.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana, 1960–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana stood at 65.6%.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana peaked at 89.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 44.9%, in 1984.
Ghana ranks 143rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 89.0% | — |
| 1970 | 83.5% | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 44.9% | -46.2% |
| 1989 | 66.6% | +48.2% |
| 1991 | 78.7% | +18.2% |
| 1992 | 74.5% | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 81.4% | +9.3% |
| 1999 | 81.4% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 76.7% | -5.8% |
| 2006 | 70.5% | -8.1% |
| 2010 | 72.5% | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 79.0% | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 74.1% | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 73.4% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 62.7% | -14.6% |
| 2022 | 65.5% | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 67.8% | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 65.6% | -3.4% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 65.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.7%, 91% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 65.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.2%, 93% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +48.2% | 44.9% | 66.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 89.0% | 89.0% | 89.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 83.5% | 83.5% | 83.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 55.8% | 44.9% | 66.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.0% | 74.5% | 81.4% | 4 |
| 2000s | 73.6% | 70.5% | 76.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.7% | 72.5% | 79.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 65.4% | 62.7% | 67.8% | 4 |
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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Ghana was 65.6% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 89.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.9% in 1984.
- How does Ghana rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Ghana ranks 143rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national 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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.