Ghana Makes Strides in Poverty Reduction, Nearly One Million Exiting Poverty
Ghana’s multidimensional poverty rate has declined steadily in 2025, with nearly one million people escaping poverty within a year, according to new data released by the Ghana Statistical Service. This significant progress is a testament to the country’s efforts to address poverty and improve living standards.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the national poverty headcount fell from 24.9 percent in the last quarter of 2024 to 21.9 percent by the third quarter of 2025. This translates to a decline from 8.2 million to just over 7 million people classified as multidimensionally poor. Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu attributes the reduction to improvements in overall living conditions.
The data reveals that poverty incidence is highest among households whose heads have no formal education, at 38.5 percent, and drops sharply to just 5.7 percent among those with tertiary education. This underscores the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty. The report also highlights regional disparities, with the North East and Savannah Regions recording the highest poverty incidence, exceeding 50 percent in both Q2 and Q3 2025.
The Ghana Statistical Service emphasizes that health and living conditions remain the dominant forces driving poverty, collectively accounting for over 74 percent of poverty’s composition. Lack of health insurance is the single largest contributor, at 26.5 percent, followed by nutrition and employment deprivation.
The report calls for targeted action, including expanding National Health Insurance Scheme coverage, accelerating investment in sanitation and safe water, strengthening school retention programs, and scaling up skills development. According to Dr. Iddrisu, these findings demand practical, targeted solutions to address poverty.
The progress made in reducing poverty is a positive step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the Ghana Statistical Service warns that underlying drivers of poverty remain largely unchanged, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to address these challenges.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
