Male labor force participation rate in Ghana
Ghana: Male labor force participation rate was 61.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Male 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
Ghana recorded 61.8% for male labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Ghana peaked at 76.2% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 61.8%, in 2025.
That places Ghana 156th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Male labor force participation rate in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76.2% | — |
| 1991 | 76.1% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 76.1% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 76.2% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 74.9% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 73.5% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 72.2% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 70.8% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 69.1% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 67.4% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 65.3% | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 64.0% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 62.8% | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 62.7% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 62.4% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 61.8% | -1.0% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 61.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.3%, 88% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 61.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70.1%, 88% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.2% | 76.1% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.2% | 76.2% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.3% | 67.4% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.2% | 61.8% | 65.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 153 Portugal 62.1% compare
- 154 Hong Kong 62.1% compare
- 155 New Caledonia 62.0% compare
- 157 North Macedonia 61.8% compare
- 158 South Africa 61.7% compare
- 159 Romania 61.7% 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 male labor force participation rate in Ghana?
- Male labor force participation rate in Ghana was 61.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 76.2% in 2013.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.8% in 2025.
- How does Ghana rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Ghana ranks 156th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. 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 Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).