Population having attained at least basic education in Ghana

Ghana: Population having attained at least basic education was 84.1 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
84.1
World rank
90th
of 111 countries
All-time high
84.1
in 2020
All-time low
0.2
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Population having attained at least basic education in Ghana, 1870–2020

0204060801870194520201870: 0.21875: 0.31880: 0.41885: 0.51890: 0.71895: 0.91900: 1.21905: 2.51910: 3.81915: 4.71920: 6.41925: 7.41930: 8.41935: 10.11940: 11.11945: 11.81950: 13.71955: 15.71960: 22.11965: 29.31970: 37.51975: 45.41980: 51.11985: 571990: 61.21995: 63.92000: 67.12005: 71.42010: 74.62015: 79.32020: 84.1

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for population having attained at least basic education in Ghana is 84.1, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population having attained at least basic education in Ghana peaked at 84.1 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 1870.

That places Ghana 90th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Population having attained at least basic education in Ghana, year by year

Annual values for Population having attained at least basic education in Ghana, 1870 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1870 0.2 —
1875 0.3 +50.0%
1880 0.4 +33.3%
1885 0.5 +25.0%
1890 0.7 +40.0%
1895 0.9 +28.6%
1900 1.2 +33.3%
1905 2.5 +108.3%
1910 3.8 +52.0%
1915 4.7 +23.7%
1920 6.4 +36.2%
1925 7.4 +15.6%
1930 8.4 +13.5%
1935 10.1 +20.2%
1940 11.1 +9.9%
1945 11.8 +6.3%
1950 13.7 +16.1%
1955 15.7 +14.6%
1960 22.1 +40.8%
1965 29.3 +32.6%
1970 37.5 +28.0%
1975 45.4 +21.1%
1980 51.1 +12.6%
1985 57 +11.5%
1990 61.2 +7.4%
1995 63.9 +4.4%
2000 67.1 +5.0%
2005 71.4 +6.4%
2010 74.6 +4.5%
2015 79.3 +6.3%
2020 84.1 +6.1%

Ghana compared with similar countries

  • Ghana's 84.1 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 85.2, 99% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
  • Ghana's 84.1 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 78, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 0.25 0.2 0.3 2
1880s 0.45 0.4 0.5 2
1890s 0.8 0.7 0.9 2
1900s 1.85 1.2 2.5 2
1910s 4.25 3.8 4.7 2
1920s 6.9 6.4 7.4 2
1930s 9.25 8.4 10.1 2
1940s 11.45 11.1 11.8 2
1950s 14.7 13.7 15.7 2
1960s 25.7 22.1 29.3 2
1970s 41.45 37.5 45.4 2
1980s 54.05 51.1 57 2
1990s 62.55 61.2 63.9 2
2000s 69.25 67.1 71.4 2
2010s 76.95 74.6 79.3 2
2020s 84.1 84.1 84.1 1

Countries ranked near Ghana

  1. 87 Iraq 86.8 compare
  2. 88 Haiti 85.2 compare
  3. 89 Libya 85.1 compare
  4. 91 Eswatini 79.9 compare
  5. 92 Nepal 79.5 compare
  6. 93 India 79.4 compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for Ghana

All data for Ghana →

Frequently asked questions

What is population having attained at least basic education in Ghana?
Population having attained at least basic education in Ghana was 84.1 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest population having attained at least basic education recorded in Ghana?
The highest recorded value was 84.1 in 2020.
What is the lowest population having attained at least basic education recorded in Ghana?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 1870.
How does Ghana rank for population having attained at least basic education?
Ghana ranks 90th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is population having attained at least basic education rising or falling in Ghana?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ghana data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population having attained at least basic education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population having attained at least basic education in Ghana. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 13 November 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/population-having-attained-at-least-basic-education/ghana/

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About this data

Indicator
Population having attained at least basic education
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed