Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana

Ghana: Primary government spending as a share of original budget was 54.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
54.9%
Change on year
down 48.1%
World rank
163rd
of 166 countries
All-time high
129.1%
in 2008
All-time low
54.9%
in 2023
Years of data
18
2006–2023

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana, 2006–2023

0501001502006201420232006: 111 %2007: 114.9 %2008: 129.1 %2009: 93.2 %2010: 103.8 %2011: 117.5 %2012: 95.8 %2013: 96.2 %2014: 96.2 %2015: 98.7 %2016: 113 %2017: 94.8 %2018: 95.6 %2019: 101.3 %2020: 114.2 %2021: 96.8 %2022: 105.8 %2023: 54.9 %

Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Ghana recorded 54.9% for primary government spending as a share of original budget in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 48.1% on the previous year and down 42.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana peaked at 129.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 54.9%, in 2023.

That places Ghana 163rd out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana, year by year

Annual values for Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana, 2006 to 2023.
Year % Change
2006 111.0%
2007 114.9% +3.5%
2008 129.1% +12.3%
2009 93.2% -27.8%
2010 103.8% +11.4%
2011 117.5% +13.2%
2012 95.8% -18.4%
2013 96.2% +0.4%
2014 96.2% -0.1%
2015 98.7% +2.7%
2016 113.0% +14.5%
2017 94.8% -16.2%
2018 95.6% +0.9%
2019 101.3% +6.0%
2020 114.2% +12.6%
2021 96.8% -15.2%
2022 105.8% +9.3%
2023 54.9% -48.1%

Ghana compared with similar countries

  • Ghana's 54.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 96.7%, 57% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Ghana's 54.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 98.1%, 56% of the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 112.0% 93.2% 129.1% 4
2010s 101.3% 94.8% 117.5% 10
2020s 92.9% 54.9% 114.2% 4

Countries ranked near Ghana

  1. 160 Sao Tome and Principe 66.4% compare
  2. 161 Marshall Islands 62.1% compare
  3. 162 Madagascar 60.6% compare
  4. 164 Cameroon 42.6% compare
  5. 165 Nigeria 37.8% compare
  6. 166 Kiribati 0.8% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Ghana

All data for Ghana →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana?
Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana was 54.9% in 2023, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Ghana?
The highest recorded value was 129.1% in 2008.
What is the lowest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Ghana?
The lowest recorded value was 54.9% in 2023.
How does Ghana rank for primary government spending as a share of original budget?
Ghana ranks 163rd out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary government spending as a share of original budget rising or falling in Ghana?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ghana data come from?
The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary government spending as a share of original budget. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Ghana. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/govt-expenditure-share-budget/ghana/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary government spending as a share of original budget
Unit
%
Source
World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
166 places, 2,464 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget (%).