Ghana

Economic Overview

GhanaWell endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 37% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Receipts from the gold sector helped sustain GDP growth in 2006 along with record high prices for Ghana's largest cocoa crop to date. Ghana received a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural export sector.

GDP Growth rate: 6% (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

    • Agriculture: 37.3%
    • Industry: 25.3%
    • Services: 37.5% (2006 est.)

Trade per capita (US$, 2003-2005): 400

Trade to GDP ratio (2003-2005): 95.7

Exports:

$3.286 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports:

$5.666 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:

Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds

Imports - commodities:

Capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 11.2%, UK 8.6%, US 6.7%, Spain 5.7%, Belgium 5.2%, France 4.4% (2006)

Imports - partners:

Nigeria 16.4%, China 12.8%, UK 5.6%, Belgium 4.7%, US 4.6%, Brazil 4.3%, South Africa 4.1%, France 4% (2006)

Share in world total merchandise exports:   0.02
Share in world total merchandise imports:    0.05
Share in world total commercial services exports: 0.04
Share in world total commercial services imports:   0.05

Indicators

HEALTH | EDUCATIONAL | ECONOMIC | POLITICAL

GENERAL INDICATORS
 
HDI Rank 136
GDP (US $ Bill.) 2004
8.9
GDP (PPP US $ Bill.) 200448.5
GDP Per Capita (PPP US $) 20042240
   
GDI Rank 101
GDI Value 0.528
GEM Rank ..
GEM Value ..
   
Total Population (Mill.) 197510.2
  200421.7
  2015a26.6
Total Female Population (in '000) 200611137
Population living below $ 1 a day in Percentage 1990-200444.8
Population living below the national poverty line in Percentage  1990-200339.5
 
HEALTH INDICATORS
 
Total Fertility Rate (Births per Woman) 1970-756.7
  2000-054.4
Maternal Mortality Ratio (Adjusted per 100000 live births) 2000540
Probability of Female Survival at birth to 65 yrs  2000-0552.9
Probability of Male Survival at birth to 65 yrs 2000-0550.4
Life Expectancy at Birth (years) 200457
Female Life Expectancy at Birth (Yrs) 57.4
Male Life Expectancy at Birth (Yrs) 56.5
Population without sustainable access to safe water in Percentage 200425
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EDUCATIONAL INDICATORS
 
Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio* in Percentage 200447
Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio (F) in Percentage 44
Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio (M) in Percentage 50
Female Legislators, Officials & Managers (% of Total) ..
Female Professionals & Technical Workers (% of Total) ..
Adult Literacy Rate (% ages 15 and older) 200457.9
Female Adult Literacy Rate ( % ages 15 and older) 49.8
Female Adult Literacy Rate (as % of Male Rate) 75
Female Youth Literacy Rate (% ages 15-24) 65.5
Female Youth Literacy Rate (as % of Male Rate) 86
Net Primary Enrolment Female Ratio (in %) 58
Net Primary Enrolment Ratio of Female to Male  1.01
Net Secondary Enrolement Female Ratio (in %) 33
Net Secondary Enrolment Ratio of Female to Male 0.86
Gross Tertiary Enrolment Female Ratio (in %) 2
Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio Female to Male  0.48
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ECONOMIC INDICATORS
 
Estimated Female Earned Income( PPP US$) 1860
Estimated Male Earned Income (PPP US $) 2611
Ratio of Female to Male Estimated Earned Income 0.71
Female Economic Activity Rate (% ages 15 and older) 70.5
Female Economic Activity ( index, 1990=100, ages 15 and older) 92
Female Economic Activity ( as % of male rates, ages 15 and older)  94
Female Employment Agriculture (%) ..
Male Employment Agriculture (%) ..
Female Employment Industry (%) ..
Male Employment Industry (%) ..
Female Employment Services (%) ..
Male Employment in Services (%) ..
Women Contributing Family Workers (%) ..
Men Contributing Family Workers (%) ..
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POLITICAL INDICATORS
 
Seats in Parliament (Women as % of Total) 10.9
Female Suffrage Granted (Year) 1954
Elections Contesting Rights (Year) 1954
Year of First Woman Elected 1960
Women Ministers (as % of total) 11.8
Seats held in Lower/Single House by Women (as % of Total) 10.9
Seats held in Upper House/Senate by Women (as % of Total)  
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Source : UNDP HDR 2006

Notes:

.. Data Not Available

a.Data refer to medium-variant projections.

* For Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Schools