Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Ghana
Ghana: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) was 3.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ghana, 1989–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ghana is 3.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.6% on the previous year and down 54.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ghana peaked at 10.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1989.
That places Ghana 126th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1.0% | — |
| 1991 | 3.5% | +245.8% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 7.5% | +102.7% |
| 1999 | 9.4% | +25.3% |
| 2000 | 10.2% | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 4.6% | -54.6% |
| 2010 | 4.9% | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | -59.9% |
| 2015 | 7.0% | +257.8% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | -53.8% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -12.6% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -9.5% |
| 2023 | 2.7% | +5.1% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | +33.0% |
| 2025 | 3.2% | -10.6% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 3.2% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.8%, 84% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 3.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.0%, 80% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +257.8% | 2.0% | 7.0% |
| 1991 | +245.8% | 1.0% | 3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 3.5% | 9.4% | 4 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 4.6% | 10.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 2.0% | 7.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 123 Faroe Islands 3.4% compare
- 124 Cayman Islands 3.3% compare
- 125 Singapore 3.2% compare
- 127 Israel 3.1% compare
- 128 Malta 3.1% compare
- 129 Kyrgyzstan 3.0% 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ghana?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Ghana was 3.2% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1989.
- How does Ghana rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Ghana ranks 126th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.