Education in Upper West, Ghana: official figures
48.1% of people aged 15 and over in the Upper West Region could read and write with understanding in at least one language at the 2021 census, 5th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 72.2%).
Are women in the Upper West Region as literate as men?
Literacy among women aged 15 and over in the Upper West Region was 41.6%, against 55.2% for men (2021 census), a gap of 13.6 percentage points.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the Upper West Region never went to school?
39.8% of people aged 6 and over in the Upper West Region (300,796) had never attended school at the 2021 census, 4th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 20.5%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the Upper West Region have a tertiary education?
6.9% of people aged 6 and over in the Upper West Region (51,904) had reached tertiary education (a Higher National Diploma, degree or postgraduate study) at the 2021 census, 6th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 8.7%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyMore figures
- 277,083 people aged 6 and over in the Upper West Region were attending school at the time of the 2021 census, 36.6% of that age group. Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copy
How Upper West compares with other regions
Literacy, people aged 15+ (2021 census) (2021)
Upper West ranks 12 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Literacy, people aged 15+ (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Western North | 65.7% |
| 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% |
People aged 6+ who never attended school (2021 census) (2021)
Upper West ranks 4 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 Upper West: 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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