Poverty and living standards in Northern, Ghana: official figures
49.4% of people in the Northern Region (1,123,336) were multidimensionally poor by the 2021 census measure of the Ghana Statistical Service, 4th highest 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 Northern Region are among the poorest in Ghana?
43.6% of people in the Northern Region lived in households in Ghana's poorest fifth by household wealth in the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 5th highest of Ghana's 16 regions.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in the Northern Region have electricity?
79.7% of households in the Northern Region used electricity as their main source of lighting at the 2021 census, 8th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 86.3%); 15.2% relied mainly on a flashlight or torch.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyWhat do households in the Northern Region cook with?
In 2021, 10.4% of households in the Northern Region cooked mainly with LPG gas (Ghana: 36.9%), 63.7% with wood and 19.2% with charcoal; wood was the most common cooking fuel.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyDo households in the Northern Region have safe drinking water?
65.4% of households in the Northern Region had basic drinking water service at the 2021 census (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip), 3rd lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 87.7%); 21.0% used an unimproved source.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many households in the Northern Region have no toilet?
55.3% of households in the Northern Region had no toilet facility at the 2021 census, 4th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 17.7%), and 19.6% used a public toilet (Ghana: 23.0%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow Northern compares with other regions
Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) (2021)
Northern ranks 4 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oti | 60.2% |
| 2 | Savannah | 54.6% |
| 3 | North East | 53.0% |
| 4 | Northern | 49.4% |
| 5 | Western North | 38.5% |
| 6 | Upper East | 36.4% |
| 7 | Upper West | 36.2% |
Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) (2021)
Northern ranks 8 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Eastern | 88.0% |
| 6 | Bono | 85.2% |
| 7 | Volta | 85.1% |
| 8 | Northern | 79.7% |
| 9 | Western North | 76.8% |
| 10 | Bono East | 76.4% |
| 11 | Ahafo | 76.0% |
Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) (2021)
Northern ranks 14 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Upper West | 78.0% |
| 11 | Bono East | 77.5% |
| 12 | Western North | 76.9% |
| 13 | Oti | 69.7% |
| 14 | Northern | 65.4% |
| 15 | Savannah | 55.1% |
| 16 | North East | 54.8% |
More on Northern: 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…)
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