Ghana has made measurable progress in reducing multidimensional poverty, with the national rate dropping to 21.9 percent by the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
Presenting the data, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said the improvement reflects a steady decline in deprivation across key indicators such as health, education, living standards, and employment. The multidimensional poverty rate fell from 23.9 percent in the first quarter of 2025 to 21.9 percent by the third quarter, continuing a downward trend that began in 2024.
When compared year-on-year, the data shows an even more significant shift. Multidimensional poverty declined from 24.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 21.9 percent in the third quarter of 2025, translating into substantial improvements in household welfare.
Nearly One Million Ghanaians Exit Poverty
According to the GSS, about 950,000 people moved out of multidimensional poverty between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025. Within 2025 alone, more than 360,000 people exited poverty between the second and third quarters, signalling accelerating gains over a relatively short period.
Dr. Iddrisu noted that while the figures point to improving living conditions nationwide, the structural causes of poverty have not shifted significantly, suggesting that progress could be fragile if not sustained by targeted policies.
Health and Living Conditions Remain Key Challenges
The report identifies health and living conditions as the most persistent sources of deprivation. Inadequate health insurance coverage, poor nutrition, overcrowded housing, and sanitation challenges remained the leading contributors to multidimensional poverty throughout both 2024 and 2025.
Stark Regional and Rural–Urban Gaps
Despite national gains, the data reveals wide regional inequalities. The Northeast and Savannah regions recorded multidimensional poverty rates exceeding 50 percent in both the second and third quarters of 2025—more than twice the national average.
In contrast, Greater Accra and the Western Region posted poverty incidence rates below 20 percent, highlighting deep geographical disparities in development outcomes.
A strong urban–rural divide also persists. As of the third quarter of 2025, multidimensional poverty affected approximately 32 percent of the rural population, compared to about 14 percent in urban areas, resulting in an 18-percentage-point gap.
Call for Targeted Policy Responses
Dr. Iddrisu stressed that while the overall decline is encouraging, reducing poverty further will require region-specific and locality-focused interventions, rather than a one-size-fits-all national strategy.
“National progress is important, but inclusive growth will only be achieved when policies are designed to address the distinct realities of rural areas and high-poverty regions,” he said.
The GSS findings underscore both Ghana’s progress in poverty reduction and the urgent need to tackle persistent inequalities to ensure balanced and sustainable development.
Source: Africa Publicity
