Education in North East, Ghana: official figures
38.5% of people aged 15 and over in the North East Region could read and write with understanding in at least one language at the 2021 census, 2nd lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 72.2%).
Are women in the North East Region as literate as men?
Literacy among women aged 15 and over in the North East Region was 31.0%, against 46.9% for men (2021 census), a gap of 15.9 percentage points.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the North East Region never went to school?
50.4% of people aged 6 and over in the North East Region (263,866) had never attended school at the 2021 census, 2nd highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 20.5%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the North East Region have a tertiary education?
3.6% of people aged 6 and over in the North East Region (18,601) had reached tertiary education (a Higher National Diploma, degree or postgraduate study) at the 2021 census, the lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 8.7%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyMore figures
- 174,321 people aged 6 and over in the North East Region were attending school at the time of the 2021 census, 33.3% of that age group. Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copy
How North East compares with other regions
Literacy, people aged 15+ (2021 census) (2021)
North East ranks 15 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Literacy, people aged 15+ (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bono East | 59.5% |
| 11 | Oti | 56.3% |
| 12 | Upper West | 48.1% |
| 13 | Upper East | 48.0% |
| 14 | Northern | 43.5% |
| 15 | North East | 38.5% |
| 16 | Savannah | 35.2% |
People aged 6+ who never attended school (2021 census) (2021)
North East ranks 2 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 6+ who never attended school (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savannah | 56.9% |
| 2 | North East | 50.4% |
| 3 | Northern | 47.3% |
| 4 | Upper West | 39.8% |
| 5 | Upper East | 38.1% |
| 6 | Oti | 33.2% |
| 7 | Bono East | 29.6% |
More on North East: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · Ghana
Sources
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3D district tables: Literacy and Education (tables 3D.3a, 3D.7a and 3D.8a), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 836bec77d67e…)
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