Poverty and living standards in Greater Accra, Ghana: official figures
12.2% of people in the Greater Accra Region (646,806) were multidimensionally poor by the 2021 census measure of the Ghana Statistical Service, the lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 29.9%). People count as poor when deprived in at least 4 of 12 indicators of education, health and living conditions.
How many people in the Greater Accra Region are among the poorest in Ghana?
2.4% of people in the Greater Accra Region lived in households in Ghana's poorest fifth by household wealth in the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, the lowest of Ghana's 16 regions.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in the Greater Accra Region have electricity?
96.1% of households in the Greater Accra Region used electricity as their main source of lighting at the 2021 census, the highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 86.3%); 2.3% relied mainly on a flashlight or torch.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyWhat do households in the Greater Accra Region cook with?
In 2021, 68.2% of households in the Greater Accra Region cooked mainly with LPG gas (Ghana: 36.9%), 2.1% with wood and 20.6% with charcoal; LPG (gas) was the most common cooking fuel.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyDo households in the Greater Accra Region have safe drinking water?
97.6% of households in the Greater Accra Region had basic drinking water service at the 2021 census (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip), the highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 87.7%); 1.7% used an unimproved source.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many households in the Greater Accra Region have no toilet?
6.2% of households in the Greater Accra Region had no toilet facility at the 2021 census, the lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 17.7%), and 24.5% used a public toilet (Ghana: 23.0%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow Greater Accra compares with other regions
Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) (2021)
Greater Accra ranks 16 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Volta | 33.1% |
| 11 | Western | 32.4% |
| 12 | Central | 31.6% |
| 13 | Eastern | 28.3% |
| 14 | Ashanti | 23.8% |
| 15 | Bono | 20.7% |
| 16 | Greater Accra | 12.2% |
Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) (2021)
Greater Accra ranks 1 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Accra | 96.1% |
| 2 | Central | 91.7% |
| 3 | Western | 89.7% |
| 4 | Ashanti | 88.5% |
| 5 | Eastern | 88.0% |
| 6 | Bono | 85.2% |
| 7 | Volta | 85.1% |
Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) (2021)
Greater Accra ranks 1 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Accra | 97.6% |
| 2 | Ashanti | 94.5% |
| 3 | Central | 93.8% |
| 4 | Bono | 93.3% |
| 5 | Western | 87.8% |
| 6 | Eastern | 87.7% |
| 7 | Ahafo | 85.5% |
More on Greater Accra: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Ghana
Sources
- Ghana Statistical Service and ICF (The DHS Program): Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2022, final report (tables 2.6, 5.2, 8.3, 9.9, 10.4, 11.1, 11.12 and 14.1.1 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3ec15d8465f…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3K: Housing Characteristics (tables 5.1, 5.10 and 5.11 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdd88e32b71f…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 PHC thematic report: Gender Dynamics in Multidimensional Poverty (Table A.3: multidimensionally poor population by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0fb1860d93ec…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3M: Water and Sanitation (tables 5.3 and 5.8 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6d128406bdbf…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.