Education in Northern, Ghana: official figures
43.5% of people aged 15 and over in the Northern Region could read and write with understanding in at least one language at the 2021 census, 3rd lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 72.2%).
Are women in the Northern Region as literate as men?
Literacy among women aged 15 and over in the Northern Region was 34.3%, against 53.4% for men (2021 census), a gap of 19.1 percentage points.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the Northern Region never went to school?
47.3% of people aged 6 and over in the Northern Region (867,219) had never attended school at the 2021 census, 3rd highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 20.5%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the Northern Region have a tertiary education?
6.4% of people aged 6 and over in the Northern Region (116,625) had reached tertiary education (a Higher National Diploma, degree or postgraduate study) at the 2021 census, 8th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 8.7%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyMore figures
- 617,137 people aged 6 and over in the Northern Region were attending school at the time of the 2021 census, 33.7% of that age group. Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copy
How Northern compares with other regions
Literacy, people aged 15+ (2021 census) (2021)
Northern ranks 14 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)
Northern ranks 3 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 Northern: 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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