Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana
Ghana: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 4.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana, 1989–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana is 4.0%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 22.4% on the previous year and up 82.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana peaked at 10.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1989.
Ghana ranks 124th of 185 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0.8% | — |
| 1991 | 3.5% | +336.7% |
| 1992 | 4.7% | +34.7% |
| 1998 | 8.2% | +74.5% |
| 1999 | 10.1% | +23.2% |
| 2000 | 10.5% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | -53.2% |
| 2010 | 5.4% | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | -59.6% |
| 2015 | 6.8% | +213.2% |
| 2017 | 3.4% | -50.5% |
| 2021 | 3.2% | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | +22.4% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 4.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 79% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 4.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 71% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +336.7% | 0.8% | 3.5% |
| 2015 | +213.2% | 2.2% | 6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 6.6% | 3.5% | 10.1% | 4 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 4.9% | 10.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 2.2% | 6.8% | 4 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 2.9% | 4.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 121 Australia 4.2% compare
- 122 Faroe Islands 4.0% compare
- 123 Trinidad and Tobago 4.0% compare
- 125 Ethiopia 3.9% compare
- 126 Malaysia 3.9% compare
- 126 Netherlands 3.9% compare
- 126 Slovenia 3.9% compare
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Ghana was 4.0% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1989.
- How does Ghana rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Ghana ranks 124th out of 185 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.