Over 360,000 Ghanaians exit poverty in just one quarter – GSS

Multidimensional poverty in Ghana declined from 23.9% in the first quarter of 2025 to 21.9% by the third quarter, according to the latest Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

The GSS said the reduction reflects improved access to basic services and better living conditions for many households. Within a single quarter, more than 360,000 people exited multidimensional poverty between the second and third quarters of 2025, while about 950,000 people moved out of poverty between the third quarter of 2024 and the same period in 2025.

Despite the gains, the report highlights persistent regional and structural inequalities. Poverty incidence remains above 50% in the North East and Savannah Regions, compared with less than 20% in Greater Accra and the Western Region, underscoring stark geographic disparities.

A significant rural–urban gap also persists. Poverty incidence in rural areas stands at 31.9%, more than double the 14.2% recorded in urban areas—an 18-percentage-point difference.

Health and living conditions remain the largest drivers of multidimensional poverty. Health-related deprivations account for 40.9% of the poverty burden, largely due to gaps in health insurance coverage. Poor living conditions contribute 33.8%, with overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, sanitation challenges, and substandard housing cited as key factors.

Education and employment continue to play a protective role. Households with no formal education recorded a poverty incidence of 38.5%, compared with 5.7% among those with tertiary education. Similarly, unemployed persons recorded a poverty incidence of 35.6%, while individuals in formal public and private sector employment recorded rates of about 5%.

The report also notes that vulnerable groups remain disproportionately affected, including persons with disabilities, female-headed households, households engaged in informal economic activities, and communities in high-poverty regions.

Meanwhile, the share of the population facing a triple burden of unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity increased slightly, from 1.4%—about 208,000 people—in the second quarter of 2025 to 1.5%, or roughly 227,500 people, in the third quarter.

The GSS said sustaining the downward trend in poverty will require targeted social protection programmes, expanded healthcare coverage, improved education outcomes, and the creation of decent jobs, particularly in rural and high-poverty areas.