Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ghana
Ghana: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 60.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ghana, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 60.0% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ghana peaked at 85.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 60.0%, in 2025.
That places Ghana 40th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 85.8% | — |
| 1992 | 84.8% | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 83.5% | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 82.4% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 81.4% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 80.4% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 79.3% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 78.5% | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 77.8% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 77.0% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 76.7% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 76.4% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 76.1% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 75.7% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 75.4% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 74.9% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 74.6% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 74.2% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 73.9% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 73.6% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 72.8% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 72.2% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 71.7% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 71.2% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 70.8% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 69.1% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 67.2% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 65.4% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 63.6% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 63.1% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 61.3% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 60.9% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 60.7% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 60.3% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 60.0% | -0.6% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 60.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 60.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 89% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 81.6% | 77.8% | 85.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 75.5% | 73.9% | 77.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.8% | 63.6% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.0% | 60.0% | 63.1% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ghana?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Ghana was 60.0% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 85.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.0% in 2025.
- How does Ghana rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Ghana ranks 40th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).