Unemployment in Ghana
Ghana: Unemployment was 522.42 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment in Ghana, 2010–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 522.42 for unemployment in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.3% on the previous year and up 95.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment in Ghana peaked at 646.35 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 267.4, in 2013.
That places Ghana 19th out of 58 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Unemployment in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 581.03 | — |
| 2013 | 267.4 | -54.0% |
| 2015 | 646.35 | +141.7% |
| 2017 | 422.08 | -34.7% |
| 2021 | 365.9 | -13.3% |
| 2022 | 345.06 | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 416.82 | +20.8% |
| 2024 | 522.42 | +25.3% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 522.42 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 354.49, 1.5× the median. (10 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 522.42 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 363.63, 1.4× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 479.21 | 267.4 | 646.35 | 4 |
| 2020s | 412.55 | 345.06 | 522.42 | 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 unemployment in Ghana?
- Unemployment in Ghana was 522.42 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 646.35 in 2015.
- What is the lowest unemployment recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 267.4 in 2013.
- How does Ghana rank for unemployment?
- Ghana ranks 19th out of 58 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 95.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.