Poverty and living standards in Upper West, Ghana: official figures
36.2% of people in the Upper West Region (316,879) were multidimensionally poor by the 2021 census measure of the Ghana Statistical Service, 7th 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 Upper West Region are among the poorest in Ghana?
52.0% of people in the Upper West Region lived in households in Ghana's poorest fifth by household wealth in the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 4th highest of Ghana's 16 regions.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in the Upper West Region have electricity?
73.1% of households in the Upper West Region used electricity as their main source of lighting at the 2021 census, 5th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 86.3%); 22.1% relied mainly on a flashlight or torch.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyWhat do households in the Upper West Region cook with?
In 2021, 12.0% of households in the Upper West Region cooked mainly with LPG gas (Ghana: 36.9%), 61.7% with wood and 21.2% with charcoal; wood was the most common cooking fuel.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyDo households in the Upper West Region have safe drinking water?
78.0% of households in the Upper West Region had basic drinking water service at the 2021 census (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip), 7th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 87.7%); 2.7% used an unimproved source.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many households in the Upper West Region have no toilet?
50.5% of households in the Upper West Region had no toilet facility at the 2021 census, 5th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 17.7%), and 10.6% used a public toilet (Ghana: 23.0%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow Upper West compares with other regions
Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) (2021)
Upper West ranks 7 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Northern | 49.4% |
| 5 | Western North | 38.5% |
| 6 | Upper East | 36.4% |
| 7 | Upper West | 36.2% |
| 8 | Bono East | 34.0% |
| 9 | Ahafo | 33.2% |
| 10 | Volta | 33.1% |
Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) (2021)
Upper West ranks 12 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Western North | 76.8% |
| 10 | Bono East | 76.4% |
| 11 | Ahafo | 76.0% |
| 12 | Upper West | 73.1% |
| 13 | Oti | 72.9% |
| 14 | North East | 72.1% |
| 15 | Savannah | 59.5% |
Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) (2021)
Upper West ranks 10 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ahafo | 85.5% |
| 8 | Volta | 80.7% |
| 9 | Upper East | 79.8% |
| 10 | Upper West | 78.0% |
| 11 | Bono East | 77.5% |
| 12 | Western North | 76.9% |
| 13 | Oti | 69.7% |
More on Upper West: 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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