Six districts in Ghana's North East Region have emerged as the poorest in the country. This finding comes from the latest district-level poverty estimates published by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). Nassuam District recorded the highest poverty incidence nationwide at 51.6 percent in 2025.
All six districts with the highest poverty are concentrated in the North East Region. This concentration reinforces long-standing concerns about uneven development between northern and southern Ghana. This situation affects thousands of households directly, limiting their access to basic services and economic opportunities.
This outcome highlights Ghana's persistent struggle with regional economic disparities. Historical underinvestment in northern regions contrasts sharply with economic growth in urban southern centers. The GSS report’s findings align with previous data showing a significant wealth gap across the country's geographical divide.
The Ghana Statistical Service indicated that the estimates used internationally recognized small area estimation techniques. These techniques combined data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census with household income and expenditure surveys conducted between 2022 and 2024. They also incorporated information from the 2025 Labour Force Survey, spanning 13 wellbeing indicators. The GSS described this report as the most comprehensive district-level poverty mapping exercise undertaken in Ghana to date.
The persistent poverty concentration in the North East Region requires immediate attention. Policy makers must implement targeted interventions and increase social investments in these areas. Failure to do so could widen the development gap, potentially fueling social unrest and hindering Ghana's overall economic progress. The government's response to these statistics will be crucial for inclusive national development.
In stark contrast to the North East Region, Ayawaso North Municipal in the Greater Accra Region recorded the lowest poverty incidence at 5.5 percent. This figure highlights the wide gap in welfare outcomes between urban and rural districts in Ghana. The findings also point to broad-based improvements across the nation.
Specifically, 250 out of Ghana’s 261 districts recorded reductions in multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2025. Multidimensional poverty measures poverty not just by income, but also by health, education, and living standards. Notable gains were seen in parts of the Upper West and Ashanti regions, where several districts significantly improved their poverty levels.
However, the report notes that poverty remains heavily concentrated in the North East, Northern, Savannah, Oti, Upper East, Upper West and Bono East regions. The Ghana Statistical Service has called for sustained and targeted policy interventions to address these regional inequalities. They also advocate for increased social investment and stronger oversight of development spending. These measures are critical to promote more inclusive growth across the country and ensure no region is left behind.