Labor force participation rate in Ghana
Ghana: Labor force participation rate was 58.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate in Ghana, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Ghana is 58.5%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Ghana peaked at 73.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 58.5%, in 2025.
That places Ghana 115th out of 186 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.8% | 72.5% | 73.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.2% | 71.9% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.1% | 63.7% | 71.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.6% | 58.5% | 61.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More work & labour data for Ghana
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 58.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 61.8% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 89.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 60.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 63.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 57.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Ghana?
- Labor force participation rate in Ghana was 58.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 73.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.5% in 2025.
- How does Ghana rank for labor force participation rate?
- Ghana ranks 115th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).