Ghana’s multidimensional poverty rate declined steadily in 2025, with nearly one million people exiting poverty within a year, according to new data released by the Ghana Statistical Service.
Presenting the findings, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said the incidence of multidimensional poverty—measuring deprivation across health, education, living conditions and employment fell from 23.9% in the first quarter of 2025 to 21.9% by the third quarter.
The data also shows an improvement compared with 2024. National multidimensional poverty declined from 24.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 21.9% in the third quarter of 2025, confirming what the Statistician described as a steady downward trend.
Between the second and third quarters of 2025, the number of people classified as multidimensionally poor fell by just over 360,000, while about 950,000 people moved out of multidimensional poverty between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025.
Dr Iddrisu said the reduction indicates improving living conditions overall, but warned that the underlying drivers of poverty have remained largely unchanged.
According to the GSS, health and living conditions continue to account for the biggest deprivations, with health insurance coverage, nutrition, overcrowding, and sanitation identified as the main pressure points across both 2024 and 2025.
Despite the national improvement, the data highlights sharp regional disparities. In both the second and third quarters of 2025, the Northeast and Savannah regions recorded multidimensional poverty rates of above 50%, more than double the national average.
By contrast, Greater Accra and the Western Region recorded poverty incidence levels of below 20%, underscoring what the Statistician described as deep geographical inequality.
The data also reveals a pronounced urban–rural divide. In the third quarter of 2025, multidimensional poverty in rural areas stood at about 32%, compared to around 14% in urban areas, creating a gap of approximately 18 percentage points.
Dr Iddrisu said the findings show that while poverty is declining nationally, rural Ghana continues to bear a disproportionate burden, arguing that inclusive growth will require policies that reflect regional and locality-specific realities rather than a uniform national approach.
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